FREDDY GONZALEZ | Staff Writer
MERCEDES — Harlingen South took the court for the first time under new head coach Jennifer Taliancich Tuesday afternoon at the Mercedes High School gymnasium.
The Lady Hawks, however, didn’t get off to the start they hoped for, dropping their first two games of the season to Edinburg and Mercedes, starting the 2015 season with 0-2 record.
“We had a last minute lineup change, but that doesn’t excuse our performance,” said Taliancich. “It’s the beginning of the season the girls will get better as the season progresses.”
South’s first loss (25-20, 25-15, 25-23) came at the hands of a strong Edinburg team that opened its season with two consecutive victories. The teams played in a tri-match in which Harlingen South, Edinburg and Mercedes all played each other once.
The Lady Hawks’ second loss came at the hands of 5A opponent Mercedes that looked solid after taking Edinburg the distance.
South was within striking distance twice, however the Lady Hawks’ inability to close the game cost them the win.
The big winner in Tuesday’s tri-match was Edinburg, which started the season with a 2-0 record. In earlier action the Lady Bobcats defeated Mercedes 25-12, 25-12, 20-25, 26-28, 15-8.
The Lady Tigers managed to erase a two-game deficit and even up the match. But the Lady Bobcats cruised through the fifth game for the 15-8 win.
“We need to build our chemistry a bit because we have a couple of new girls in the mix and kids playing in different positions and they’re truing to get use to that,” said Edinburg head coach Deanna Dominguez.
“I saw them get tested today and there were moments where they were giving up on themselves but they fought through it, especially when they were down to Harlingen South.”
The Mercedes Lady Tigers began their 2015 season with a 1-1 record.
The Lady Tigers looked like the team to beat after competing against their 6A opposition.
After losing to Edinburg, Mercedes defeated Harlingen South in straight games 25-23, 25-18, 29-27.
“I liked that we were attacking the ball and we were playing every ball, diving for the digs and played every point like it was the last so they did a good job,” said Mercedes head coach Judy Gutierrez. “The girls played in summer leagues over the summer so the chemistry is there but we have seven returning from last year’s squad.
“We also lost five girls last year so this group is still working on getting used to each other.”