By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Virtually every year, McAllen High finds itself opening the season against Laredo Alexander, in what coach Paula Dodge referred to as something of a measuring stick and a preview of what could await her group in the playoffs.
But McHi wasn’t reading too much into its 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 25-11 non-district loss Tuesday at home, considering the bevy of newcomers it is bringing into the fold.
McAllen High (0-1) returns five players from last year’s area-qualifying team, including Julia Monday, a senior outside hitter who earned All-Area second team honors. The senior outside hitter recorded 12 kills and two aces Tuesday, while teammate Sydney Pemelton, a senior middle blocker, notched 11 kills, two blocks and one ace.
Missing among the returners, however, was setter Carter Helmcamp, who is nursing a sprained ankle.
“We’re still learning what our strengths are, and what adjustments we need to make. Different rotations,” Dodge said. “It’s the first game of the season, so we have a lot of room to grow in every aspect.”
The biggest challenge for McHi seemed to be Alexander’s size and speed. It quickly ripped off runs of a 7-0 to open the game, or 11-1 to start the fourth. Much of that, players say, was attributed to the communication between the returners and the seven newcomers.
McHi had perhaps its best showing in Game 2, when it created separation from a 19-18 lead to win convincingly, 25-19, and even the match at one piece. Other than that, McHi struggled at times in two games, while winning one and keeping things close in the third.
“We’re looking good, but I think we could improve with our defensive skills, talking and our communication on the court,” Pemelton said. “Since we have new players, we’re still not really used to playing with each other, but we’re working on it.”
Senior outside hitter and middle blocker Taylor Helmcamp, however, wasn’t overly concerned. She said there were “good vibes” around the team the past couple of weeks, and the personalities appear to be meshing well. Once the underclassmen grow accustomed to playing best-of-five (instead of three) and “getting their jitters out,” she said she anticipates them thriving.
McHi showed it in spurts Tuesday, as it overcame a 7-0 deficit in Game 1 and tied it at 18 and 22 before falling. There was also the final stretch of Game 2 where it put together a 6-1 run to seal it. Though it was never ahead in Game 4, McHi forged three ties and nearly closed the gap at 24-23 before Alexander spiked the ball into the back row and pulled away.
“I think we need to work on clicking on the court,” said Taylor Helmcamp, a returning letterman. “We’re really hard workers, and we all dive for the ball, but we haven’t necessarily come together as a team yet. So, while individually we’re all really strong, we have to make sure we come together.
“That’s what the preseason is for: to get experience. So I think when that happens, it’ll definitely come together.”