By ROY HESS/Staff Writer
The final day of volleyball action in Districts 32-6A and 32-5A has arrived, and there is still a lot to be determined regarding playoff berths.
Tuesday’s schedule in 32-6A has district champion Los Fresnos (13-0) at Weslaco High (3-10), Weslaco East (2-11) at Hanna (7-6), Harlingen High (7-6) at San Benito (9-4) and Rivera (9-4) at Harlingen South (1-12).
Los Fresnos is trying to complete another undefeated district campaign, while Rivera and San Benito are tied for second place and could still be deadlocked after Tuesday.
“We have to play to our fullest potential now to prepare for the postseason,” Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods said recently.
Hanna and Harlingen High are tied for fourth place in 32-6A and one of the two teams will take the district’s final playoff spot. The Lady Golden Eagles and Lady Cardinals also could wind up tied after Tuesday’s matches.
It’s possible there may be seeding and play-in matches later in the week to finalize things in 32-6A as Los Fresnos, Rivera and San Benito already have secured postseason berths.
“We are approaching this match (at South) the same way as any other district match,” Rivera assistant coach Richard Guerra said. “Yes, we have to do our part and then see what happens elsewhere in the district. One of the goals of the season for us was to get back into the playoffs (after a two-year absence). We have done that. We just have to do our thing on Tuesday.”
In 32-5A, district champion Brownsville Veterans Memorial (13-0) is attempting to complete conference play with an undefeated record for the first time. The Lady Chargers play host to third-place Donna High (9-4) Tuesday.
“I feel really proud,” Lady Chargers coach Lisa Mares said. “Our girls have come a long way. It’s exciting.
“We still need one more win (to go unbeaten in district), and anything can happen,” she added. “We just need to keep working hard and work on little things here and there.”
The remainder of Tuesday’s schedule in 32-5A has Lopez (5-8) at Pace (6-7), Porter (2-11) at second-place Edcouch-Elsa (10-3) and Donna North (4-9) at Mercedes (3-10). With a win, Pace clinches the fourth-place playoff spot from 32-5A behind Brownsville Veterans, E-E and Donna High. A Lopez victory forces a play-in match with Pace later this week.
TRAVELIN’ FANS
Los Fresnos fans like to follow their Lady Falcon volleyball team and always seem to show up in good numbers for road matches.
“I would like to thank our fans for coming out to every match — home and away,” said Jackie Kingsbury, the Lady Falcons’ standout senior outside hitter/all-around player.
There should be a good crowd of Los Fresnos supporters on hand Tuesday at Weslaco High as the Lady Falcons go after another 14-0 finish in district, a feat they achieved last year in winning 32-6A.
CORRECTION
It was incorrectly reported in last week’s volleyball notebook that St. Joseph Academy completed its first varsity season this year. Actually, it was the Lady Bloodhounds’ first junior varsity season and they will be playing their first varsity season next year. The Herald regrets the error.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess