By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
For Mariza Cardenas, all the hours she’s put in playing volleyball at Brownsville Veterans Memorial and on her club teams, the time has been very well-spent considering she has received a college scholarship.
Cardenas, a 5-foot-10 1/2 senior middle blocker who started three years and led the Lady Chargers to the playoffs each season, signed a scholarship agreement Monday to play her sport on the NAIA level at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
“I’m on top of the world, this is just great,” said Cardenas during a signing ceremony at the Brownsville Veterans auditorium. “This is my dream, it’s something I’ve always wanted, and it’s finally coming true. I just have to thank everyone who has motivated me throughout my (high school) years so that I could have this great opportunity.
“It’s a whole new challenge (playing in college),” she added. “I can’t wait to open up those doors and get started.”
Cardenas sparked the Lady Chargers to district co-championships the past two seasons, receiving all-district, All-Metro and All-Valley honors. She was The Brownsville Herald’s 2014 All-Metro MVP after leading her team with 514 kills and 61 blocks as a senior. The Lady Chargers advanced to the third round of the state playoffs in 2014.
Although Lady Chargers coach Lisa Mares is somewhat sad to say goodbye to one of her top players, she also shares in the joy of her senior standout and that of family and friends as a long-held dream was realized Monday.
“Since I first started coaching, one of the goals I’ve had is to teach what I’ve learned about the game I love so much to my players,” Mares said. “I wanted to instill those things into the players I’ve had who share that same passion, and Marizais one of them who has it and will continue to have it. She really worked hard for this and she really deserves it. She got better every year. We focused on different things (to improve upon) every season, and she really surpassed her goals.
“I’m going to miss her, but I’m so happy for her,” Mares added. “She’s done so much for our program.”
Being a part of the Lady Chargers’ success of recent years means a lot to the graduating senior.
“It makes me feel great inside, knowing that I’ve been able to contribute (to the team),” said Cardenas, who plans to major in kinesiology. “Even if we hadn’t been successful and a winning team, it would still be awesome because of all the people I’ve met over the years playing volleyball. The memories are going to be there and will always be great.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @ HessRgehess.