McALLEN — Los Fresnos fired an array of shots at Mayda Garcia and her McAllen Rowe teammates during the championship game of the ninth annual Poundfest Tournament on Saturday at McAllen High.
“They gave us tips, they would hit at us, they would go to the corners,” Garcia said. “They gave us a lot of tricky shots.”
Whatever it was, the Lady Warriors generally had a response, with Garcia delivering the most emphatic answer — 21 kills, 22 digs and four blocks — as Rowe secured a 26-24, 27-25, 15-10 victory to capture the tournament for a second consecutive year.
“It was tough, but we never gave up,” said Garcia, who earned tournament MVP honors for a second straight year. “They gave us a lot of competition preparing us for all these other tournaments that we’re going to and for district play.”
Rowe (11-0) closed out the tournament with a 9-0 record, beating Brownsville Rivera and McAllen High on Saturday before taking on Los Fresnos (9-1). The Lady Falcons struggled with Garcia up front. The senior co-captain delivered a series of timely hits, such as when she gave Rowe a 25-24 edge in Game 1 and later powered a 7-3 spurt in Game 3 that forced Los Fresnos to call for time.
“We had a great tournament. We just couldn’t shut down No. 5 (Garcia),” Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods said. “We tried to block her, but we couldn’t execute the block well enough. That’s something we need to work on. She’s a good player. I give her credit.”
Rowe co-captain Sophie Luna added support, chipping in with 10 kills, 10 digs and one block. Vanessa Lopez posted 17 assists and seven digs. And Deanna Spear had 12 digs and 15 assists.
Aside from winning the tournament, Rowe coach Magda Canales said the team was able to tinker with certain lineups and have players acclimate to their new roles. She said she’s still looking for the right fit in the back row and hopes her setters and hitters establish more of a rapport.
Up next for Rowe is a tri-match Tuesday before taking off for San Antonio next weekend for the Northeast ISD Tournament. There, Canales said, Rowe will emphasize defense and positioning.
Woods said that Los Fresnos, which will also be traveling to the same tournament, will have to “go back, refocus and work on blocking.” The blocking, of course, is a response to Garcia,
“We’re going to come up against big teams like that,” Woods said, “so we’ve got to be able to knock the ball down.”
The Lady Falcons were led by Jackie Kingsbury, who posted 13 kills, 10 digs and two blocks. Peyton Sales recorded four blocks, six digs and 12 assists. Miranda Gonzalez had eight assists and five digs.
McAllen High Poundfest Tournament Results
Saturday, Aug. 16
Gold bracket
McAllen Rowe def. Brownsville Rivera 25-20, 25-16
McAllen Memorial def. McAllen High 26-24, 16-25, 11-15
Laredo Alexander def. Brownsville Veterans 26-24, 12-25, 10-15
Edinburg North def. Los Fresnos 25-21, 25-16
McAllen Memorial def. Brownsville Rivera 25-17, 25-7
McAllen High def. McAllen Rowe 13-25, 23-25
Laredo Alexander def. Edinburg North 26-24, 18-25, 15-11
Brownsville Veterans def. Los Fresnos 19-25, 22-25, 15-10
Consolation bracket
McAllen Memorial def. Laredo Alexander 25-2, 21-25, 16-14
Third place
McAllen High def. Brownsville Veterans 25-17, 18-25, 15-13
Championship
McAllen Rowe def. Los Fresnos 26-24, 25-27, 15-10
Silver bracket
Weslaco High def. PSJA North 25-22, 25-23
Brownsville Hanna def. San Benito 25-19, 25-20
Cigarroa def. Edinburg Vela 25-22, 23-25, 13-15
La Feria def. Sharyland High 10-25, 19-25
Weslaco High def. Brownsville Hanna 19-25, 18-25
San Benito def. PSJA North 28-26, 25-16
Edinburg Vela def. Sharyland High 25-19, 25-19
Cigarroa def. La Feria 25-19, 25-23
Consolation
Sharyland High def. Weslaco High 26-28, 25-19, 15-8
Third Place
San Benito def. Cigarroa 29-30, 25-19, 15-11
Championship
Brownsville Hanna def. Edinburg Vela 25-15, 14-25, 15-13
Bronze bracket
McAllen High JV def. Edinburg Economedes 25-17, 25-9
Port Isabel vs PSJA High 25-14, 13-25, 15-13
Brownsville Porter def. PSJA Memorial 21-25, 25-17, 11-15
Brownsville Pace def. Brownsville Lopez 25-21, 25-20
McAllen High JV def. Port Isabel 18-25, 14-25
Edinburg Economedes def. PSJA High 23-25, 20-25
PSJA Memorial def. Brownsville Pace 25-18, 18-25, 8-15
Brownsville Porter def. Brownsville Lopez 25-11, 25-22
Consolation
PSJA High def. Brownsville Porter, Porter wins
Third place
McAllen High def. PSJA Memorial 25-9, 25-5
Championship
Port Isabel def. Brownsville Pace 25-21; 25-21