By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Sooner or later this volleyball season, Los Fresnos’ Becky Woods is going to pick up her 600th career coaching victory.
As far as the District 32-6A-leading Lady Falcons are concerned, it might as well be at noon Saturday when they play host to Harlingen High.
Los Fresnos (33-8, 10-0 district), ranked No. 2 in the Rio Grande Valley behind Mission Veterans Memorial, has won its past 13 matches, so the odds would seem to be in Woods’ favor that she’ll notch win No. 600 against the Lady Cardinals (3-7).
For the record, Woods’ overall coaching record is 599-319 through 31 seasons.
She knows Saturday’s match has special significance, but she would rather her team approach it as routinely as possible.
“It’s another match,” Woods said. “I just want us to play well and win.
“Yes, it’s a big day (for me),” she added. “I hope we look good out there on the court, that’s the main thing.”
Reaching 600 wins for a high school volleyball coach may be a first for South Texas and a rare achievement in the state. The state record for most high school volleyball wins appears to belong to Billy Bob Evans of Jewett Leon. He retired in 2000 with 1,079 victories.
When asked what reaching such a milestone would mean to her, Woods said, “It means I’ve had a lot of good players play for me over 31 years. It’s got to be the kids and the ones on our coaching staffs all the way down to middle school (as the reason). Everyone has had a part in this.”
After Saturday, Los Fresnos has three more regular-season matches on its schedule before the playoffs.
REMATCH: Porter plays at Pace at 2 p.m. Saturday with a possible playoff berth on the line for the District 32-5A teams and crosstown rivals.
In district, the fourth-place Cowgirls are 5-5, and the fifth-place Lady Vikings are 4-6. The top four teams in 32-5A advance to the postseason, and right now, the leaders are Edcouch-Elsa (9-1), PSJA High (9-1) and Donna High (8-2).
When Pace played at Porter during the first round of district Sept. 22, the Cowgirls prevailed 25-17, 26-24, 25-14.
Porter coach Laura Fortner won’t be at Saturday’s match because she’ll be participating in graduation ceremonies at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. She’ll be receiving her master’s degree in education. Assistant Vanessa Mata will coach the Cowgirls on Saturday.
“Well, it hurts me that I will not be there,” Fortner said. “I am taking it hard. I see the match (being) very loud, and packed (with fans) and tons of energy from both teams.
“Each team knows what’s expected of them and what winning this match means for their season,” she added. “My girls have what it takes. They just need to come out with that same fire they had the last time we played Pace.”
Not long ago, Pace coach Gavin Rudder coached Fortner, a former Hanna standout whose maiden name is Rodriguez, at the University of Texas at Brownsville and at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The coaches have a friendly rivalry between them.
“The Porter matchup will be very big for us,” Rudder said. “It won’t be the same for me because Coach Fortner won’t be there, but I am glad she is accomplishing a huge goal in her life.”
PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS: Among the area’s teams, Los Fresnos and Brownsville Veterans Memorial have earned playoff spots from District 32-6A. Hanna is on the verge of claiming a playoff berth.
The winner of Saturday’s match between Pace and Porter could eventually clinch a playoff spot from District 32-5A or possibly force a play-in match to get to the postseason.
In District 32-4A, third-place Port Isabel (7-3) needs one more win to clinch a spot. The Lady Tarpons play at Grulla (3-7) at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.