By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — As Edinburg High amassed a 22-4 record heading into Saturday’s District 31-6A opener, coach Deanna Dominguez tried to inspire her players by reminding them that their exceptional play to start the year had little impact on their playoff and district title aspirations.
“It’s all brand-new now,” Dominguez said. “This is a new chapter.”
Much like the previous 26 matches, the Lady Bobcats made quick work of their opponents, dispatching Edinburg Economedes 25-16, 25-10, 25-14 on the road.
“This game was really important,” said Edinburg High’s Elizabeth Olivarez, who finished with 21 digs. “In non-district, you don’t really worry about your record, but now it’s district and nothing else matters. You’re worried about yourself, and you’re worried about representing your team.”
Given the changes the changes Edinburg High has had to make with its lineup recently, Dominguez said she was pleased with her players’ communication as of late. With middle blocker Natalie Martinez suffering a stress fracture in her feet, leaving her on crutches the past four games, the Lady Bobcats have moved Amber Reyes from the right side to the middle, leading to other changes in their rotation.
It’s hardly shown in Edinburg High’s play, however, with Tianna Howard picking up a match-high 19 kills to go with two aces, two blocks and one dig. Dezi Marmolejo racked up 33 assists, 13 digs, two kills and three aces. Maria Reyes contributed seven digs, three kills and two aces. And Renee Ponce chipped in with three kills, five assists and two digs.
“It’s just been a rollercoaster,” Dominguez said. “We’ve had to make changes, but I feel like it’s God’s way. We’ve had to keep adjusting; that’s what the game’s about. Not trying to let anything be an excuse for us.
“If it’s not one thing, it’s another. But we’re just rolling with it.”
In the process, Howard, a three-year lettermen, has flourished. Dominguez said the junior has learned that “not every shot has to be a glory shot,” and that she must play smart and conserve energy. It showed Saturday in the way Howard picked her spots, and went for dagger kills.
She scored off a feed from Marmolejo to seal Game 2, and then kept the Lady Bobcats 19-10 lead in the final set before Marmolejo’s tip over the net secured the sweep.
“We always trust her there,” Olivarez said of Marmolejo said. “Her serves are really strong, and we mesh well. We have good chemistry, and it works.”
Though Economedes struggled to make it competitive until Game 3 on Saturday, junior middle blocker Brittany Cantu said she was encouraged by the incremental growth her team has shown lately. The past three years, she said the playoff team fell out of the playoff picture because of a lack of a communication.
And even though the team had those lapses on Saturday, given it only returns four players from last year, she saw them meshing on the court better than in years past.
“I think everyone jus wants it more,” Cantu said. “We have the will to keep going, to push each other. It’s different. We push each other more, we get along more and we have chemistry. That’s what’s helping us get through the season.”
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