DONNA — Alejandra Galindo’s introduction to Kassandra Rocha came long before the two teamed up at Roma.
Like most of her teammates, Galindo attended Roma Middle School, a direct competitor to Rocha’s Ramiro Barrera Middle School. Their battles on the court resulted in a rivalry that lasted for years.
“She was really competitive,” Galindo remembers. “She was the main girl (on the opposing team) every time we played them. We really didn’t like each other.”
That created some awkwardness in the locker room, when the two became teammates as sophomores.
Galindo remembers having a “really hard time” adjusting to having Rocha as her teammate. Rocha said she “felt out of place” because of the tension. Roma coach Angie Garcia noticed the divide. So one day in practice, Garcia addressed the team about coming together as one.
“Coach made it a lot better,” Rocha said. “She was telling us now we’re together (on the same team), so leave all that behind. Now we’ve got to win together.”
And now, as the two enter their second season as team captains, along with Luz Gonzalez, Galindo said, “We’ve gotten closer and closer. It’s almost like she’s been with us our whole lives. She’s one of our closest friends now.”
The two put aside that competitive animosity to finish second in district last season en route to the area round. As seniors this year, expectations continue to rise.
Part of that, Garcia said, is due to their experience, especially as second-year captains and first-team all-district honorees.
“They’ve grown a whole lot from their sophomore year,” Garcia said. “They’re hard-working players, not only on game days but in practice. When they see anyone slacking off, they bring the team together. Whether they’re tired or stressed out, they keep working together to keep it going. They have high expectations coming out of last year. It was the most successful year the program had under me. So we’re all super excited, and we definitely have high expectations.”
The momentum from last season, when they finished 34-8, appears to have carried over into this year. They opened the season Wednesday with a win over Weslaco East. And on the opening day of the Donna ISD Tournament on Thursday, Roma beat Mercedes, Monte Alto and Progreso to improve to 4-0.
In the absence of Gonzalez, who returned to practice this week after nursing a shoulder injury, Rocha has absorbed more responsibility as the team’s go-to hitter. Already expected to provide a burst of energy, Rocha has thrived in that role as the featured offensive player.
Last season, Rocha alternated with Gonzalez in the front and back rows as the team’s strongest-hitting duo. The difference now is Galindo has assumed more of Gonzalez’s setting and hitting duties in sliding into that role with Rocha. It helps, too, that two have established a rapport.
Who would have thought?
“They definitely work well together,” Garcia said. “They know each other. They’ve been playing three years on varsity. By now, they know what they like. Alejandra knows how Kassie likes her sets and vice versa.
“The chemistry,” she added, speaking in general terms, “it’s very important. It’s very important for them to get along and work well together. Volleyball is about teamwork; you can’t do it by yourself. In the end, everyone needs each other.”