By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Considering the experience and returning talent on this year’s squad, the Hanna Lady Golden Eagles are looking forward to enjoying one of their best volleyball seasons in 2015.
Leading the way for the team are four senior captains who have been on the varsity for either three or four years.
They are Sasha-Rae Brown, Flora Herrera, Pamela Ellis and Bianca Olivares. Brown is a 5-foot-7 1/2 outside hitter, while Herrera and Ellis are 5-10 middle blockers. Olivares is a 5-4 setter.
“It’s incredible to play for Hanna,” said Herrera, a member of the varsity for three seasons. “Just the experience of being here and playing together is great. We’re the dream team that everybody would want. We’re all best friends on and off the court, and we play together as one. Having the connection that we have makes us sisters. That’s the way it works.
“I like the motivation that we have,” Herrera added. “We all want to go far in the playoffs. To go far, that’s our dream.”
Along with his four captains, sixth-year Lady Eagles coach Ansgar Hagemann has six additional players back with varsity experience in Julie Soto, Jennifer Guerrero, Yelitza Barrientos, Giana Muniz, Alexa Herrera and Lauren Webb.
“It’s like a family now because they’re used to each other and how each other plays, plus they’re used to the personality of the coach,” Hagemann said. “They’re doing a good job.
“Right now I’m telling them it’s harvest time,” he added. “They’ve put in a lot of hard work and it’s the senior year (for most of them), so it’s time to reap the benefits. I hope we have a great season. I’ll be sad to see them (graduate and) leave.”
The Lady Eagles are 17-9 on the season and 1-0 in District 32-6A after winning their district opener 18-25, 26-24, 25-13, 23-25, 15-7 on Saturday at San Benito. The Hanna girls next play host to Harlingen High at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“It’s been a long, amazing journey that we have been making together as a team,” said Ellis, a four-year member of the varsity. “I want to see us keep things going as long as possible. We’re working hard so that we can go deeper into the playoffs this year. The key is playing together as a team and continuing to work hard to win our matches.
“It would be a dream come true for us to get first place in district and go deep into the playoffs,” added Ellis, who hopes to continue playing volleyball in college. “I think we have a pretty good opportunity (to do well).”
The Lady Golden Eagles finished third in 32-6A one year ago behind co-champions Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Los Fresnos. The Hanna girls were eliminated during the first round of the playoffs last season by Edinburg High, 25-20, 25-12, 16-25, 27-25.
They’re anticipating a better showing this time around.
“This team is like a family to me since I’ve been on the squad since my freshman year,” Brown said. “It’s our last season (as seniors), and everybody is motivating each other. We’re accomplishing a lot, and that’s awesome. It’s a senior team, so everyone is aiming to go deep in the playoffs. We’re all goal-oriented to do that. We’re pushing each other.”
Added Olivares, a three-year member of the varsity who is nursing an ankle injury, “My sophomore year (two seasons ago) was when we didn’t make the playoffs, and I think we’ve all progressed (since then). We showed everyone last year that we could be playoff material. I think this is the year that we’re going to show people we can really go far.
“It means a lot to me to be a captain for this team,” Olivares added. “I like that I can be one of the ones to lift my teammates up when they’re down. I feel that everyone is dedicated and determined to help us make it far. I know that we can do it.
“I think the other teams better watch out.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.