By MARK MOLINA
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — With a decade of friendship and a couple of years of varsity volleyball under their belts, Harlingen South seniors Adrianna Espinoza and Christina Montez are going to remain teammates for at least two more years.
In fact, those two years will be at the collegiate level after Espinoza and Montez inked their national letters of intent to play volleyball at Coastal Bend College Wednesday afternoon at the Harlingen South gymnasium.
“We’ve been together for ten years already and it’s exciting to start the next chapter with her in my life,” Montez said. “She (Espinoza) is my best friend and I can’t do it without her.”
“I’m just glad to have the opportunity to play in college because not everyone gets that opportunity,” Espinoza added. “To get the chance to do that with my best friend is the best feeling ever.”
Coastal Bend College is a NJCAA Division 1 college located in Beeville.
While it’s a small school, Espinoza and Montez agree that going to a smaller school is the right first step in their pursuit of higher learning.
“The campus wasn’t big, but I don’t think we should head to a big university in our first year, so we can get our basics so that we can stay focused on sports.” Espinoza said.
“We want to possibly get our associates degrees first and then transfer out to a bigger school where we can play,” Montez added.
They will join a Lady Cougars team who is led by second-year head coach Sarah Martorell.
The team went 0-10 in conference play this year, so Montez, a first 32-6A All-District first team selection in 2015, and Espinoza, a second team selection, have a chance to make an impact right away.
South volleyball coach Jennifer Taliancich is confident they will do just that.
“Coach is going to be really lucky to have them and I’ll miss them,” she said. “They’re going to be great in the front row. As middles, they did great things for me and anywhere they are put, they’ll do good things.”
As far as academics go, Montez will study communications and pursue a career as a speech therapist, while Espinoza will pursue a future in journalism.