By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The goal was not to slip to 0-2 to start the District 32-5A volleyball race.
That’s the objective the Porter Cowgirls and Pace Lady Vikings each had in mind when the two teams played Tuesday at the Porter gym. Each squad had suffered a loss in its conference opener last weekend, so getting a win in the second district match was pretty important to both of them.
As it turned out, things went in Porter’s favor as the Cowgirls evened their 32-5A record at 1-1 by capturing a 25-13, 16-25, 25-19, 25-19 victory over the Lady Vikings (0-2).
It was a back-and-forth match with quite a few momentum changes and standout plays, befitting the spirited rivalry that has developed between the two schools in 32-5A during the past few years.
“I’m really proud of our girls and the intensity level they had,” Cowgirls coach Ariel Arredondo said. “They kept their spirits high the entire match, even when we were down in the score and lost the second set. Even then, our girls still managed to rally back and push and fight. That’s what we’ve been working on a lot is staying positive and being consistency.”
The victory provides an important boost for her team, the Porter coach said.
“This win brings us to just another level and makes us want to keep pushing and fighting,” Arredondo said. “Playing like this, our girls can know that we do have a shot at the playoffs. Going into these next (district) games, 1-1 is a whole lot better than 0-2.
“Nothing is going to be easy and nothing’s going to be given to us. Now that we have that first district win, I feel there will be more wins to follow.”
It was anyone’s game in the fourth set as the score was tied for the last time at nine, but Porter surged ahead and soon led 19-12 on a kill by Melanie Gasca. Pace came back and an ace by Stephanie Saenz pulled to Lady Vikings to within one point, 20-19.
However, Porter then reeled off the next five points to take the fourth game 25-19 and clinch the match. The final point was won thanks to a well-placed tip by Porter’s Andrea Villanueva.
“Any time Porter and Pace play, (the rivalry) brings a different type of energy, especially to the home team,” Lady Vikings coach Gavin Rudder said. “Those Porter girls played their hearts out and hustled on every single point. They just seemed to want it more tonight than we did. I give props to every girl on their team. It was a total team effort by Porter.”
Valerie Jimenez led Porter with 11 kills and had one block. Gasca had 10 kills and two blocks. Villanueva also had 10 kills. Also for Porter, Brigitte Ortiz had 30 assists and April Reyes had 21 digs.
For Pace, Angie Cardenas had seven kills, three aces and two digs, while teammate Amanda Gomez had 15 assists. Ebony Casanova contributed nine aces and 17 digs.
Conference action continues Saturday as Porter is at home against Donna North and Pace is at Mercedes.