By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
DONNA — Keeping in mind how both teams shared the District 32-5A title a year ago, Edcouch-Elsa was determined Saturday to create a bit of distance between itself and Donna High.
Last year, they split their head-to-head matchups, both times going the distance. So with only one match separating the two into the district standings going into Saturday, the Lady Yellowjackets were intent on pouncing on every opportunity that came their way.
Their front line played aggressively, as it has all season, and it aided them in picking apart the Bravettes 25-23, 25-22, 25-10, en route to their seventh straight sweep.
“It’s a big win, not only because it’s the end of the first round of district, but because it’s a big mental win,” E-E coach Ofelia Griffith said. “In athletics, a large part of the game is mental, and this gives us a bit of a mental edge. Again, an edge. Everything still has to be played out.
“That’s one thing we don’t lose sight of. We’re in good position, but we know every game has to be played, and we don’t take anything for granted.”
The Lady Yellowjackets (24-9, 7-0), who entered the game ranked No. 7 by RGVSports.com, kept the match close through two games Saturday before running away with it in the third set. They remain in first place in district, with a two-win lead over Donna (18-6, 5-2).
After a hitting error that reduced its edge to 23-22, senior Samantha Martinez (12 kills, 13 assists, eight digs) connected with Cassidy Martinez (seven kills), who tipped over her kill. E-E proceeded to sail a serve out of bounds, before Cassidy Martinez fed freshman Paloma Ybarra for a thundering kill.
Ybarra finished with six kills, two digs and one assist.
“We all worked together to get the points,” said junior middle hitter Alejandra Martinez, who added two kills, two assists and 17 digs. “It was a lot of communication on our part.”
All year, E-E has received contributions across the board, and it continued that trend Saturday, which marked the final match of the first round of district. On Tuesday, the Lady Yellowjackets begin the second portion of their 32-5A schedule when they travel to PSJA High for a 7:30 p.m. match.
Not since an Aug. 28 defeat at the hands of Harlingen High in the Laredo Tournament has E-E lost a game, let alone a match.
They’ve been able to spread around the attack, with Jackie De Los Santos setting up her teammates. On Saturday, it was to the tune of 17 assists to go with 10 digs and two aces.
The junior has enjoyed a breakout season following two severe injuries that has sidelined her for the better part of two seasons. As a freshman, De Los Santos tore her meniscus and ACL while playing soccer. The following year, she tore it again during volleyball season. She’s back on the court now, healthy, sporting a brace on her right knee.
“She has worked her heart out to get up there,” Griffith said. “She’s just a harder work and she has a great attitude.”
Their combined efforts helped stave off the Bravettes, who were led by Yvette Tamez (nine kills, two blocks and three aces) on Saturday. Tamez had some of her shots challenged at the net by the younger Martinez, who had three kills during a stretch in which E-E turned an 11-6 edge to a 14-7 cushion in Game 3.
Tamez did her part to try to even the match at one apiece, when she scored off assists from Adrianna Martinez (24 assists, five digs) to cut it to 14-10 and 15-13. Martinez followed with an ace that forced E-E to call for time, but the Bravettes never fully pulled out ahead.
Kara Yanez finished with 18 digs for Donna, which also received 10 kills, two aces and six digs from Melanie Arenas.