By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
There’s something to be said for living in the moment.
No one can blame the Rivera Lady Raiders and Los Fresnos Lady Falcons for focusing solely on their next volleyball matches and not looking ahead.
Understandably, at this point, neither team’s coach wants to say all that much about next Tuesday’s District 32-6A showdown between Los Fresnos and Rivera.
That’s because the Lady Falcons and Lady Raiders first have to win matches on Saturday if they want to go into their anticipated confrontation at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Rivera with 5-0 district records.
The focus for both teams remains on winning Saturday as neither coach wants her squad to get caught looking ahead.
That goes for Becky Woods at Los Fresnos and Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra at Rivera.
“I’m thinking,” Woods said when asked for her thoughts about Tuesday, but then opted not to comment further. Avelar-Guerra had a similar non-response to the question, indicating there would be no looking beyond Saturday’s matches for either team.
In 32-6A matches at noon Saturday, it’s Harlingen High at Los Fresnos and Rivera at Weslaco East. The district’s other two matches at noon Saturday find San Benito at Hanna and Weslaco High at Harlingen South.
Behind Rivera and Los Fresnos, both 4-0 in the 32-6A standings, are Harlingen High (3-1), Hanna (2-2), San Benito (2-2), Weslaco High (1-3), Weslaco East (0-4) and South (0-4).
Los Fresnos is the defending champion in 32-6A. The Lady Falcons are seeking a school-record fifth straight district title in volleyball.
The four playoff teams from 32-6A last season were Los Fresnos, Rivera, Hanna and San Benito.
32-5A UPDATE
Brownsville Veterans Memorial leads District 32-5A with a 4-0 record.
Behind the Lady Chargers in the district standings are Pace (3-1), Edcouch-Elsa (3-1), Donna High (3-1), Lopez (2-2), Porter (1-3), Mercedes (0-4) and Donna North (0-4).
“It feels great (to be 4-0),” said Brownsville Veterans’ Cassie Valdez, a senior outside hitter/all-around player. “We just want to keep doing what we’re doing (and win).”
Porter has had the most demanding road to start off district as the Cowgirls played three straight five-game matches, winning one out of the three before coming up short at home against Donna High in four games on Tuesday.
Porter plays at defending champion Brownsville Veterans at 4 p.m. Saturday. The other 32-5A matches Saturday find E-E at Pace at 11 a.m., Lopez at Mercedes at 1 p.m. and Donna North at Donna High at noon.
QUITE A COMEBACK
From time to time there are volleyball matches where a team rallies from the edge of defeat and wins.
Port Isabel came out on the winning end with such a comeback Tuesday in a District 32-4A match at Progreso. The Lady Tarpons prevailed 20-25, 17-25, 25-17, 25-19, 15-5.
“We just didn’t let up,” Lady Tarpons coach Julie Breedlove said. “The girls just kept fighting. We got us a little lead in the fifth game and just kept building on it.”
Port Isabel is in third place in 32-4A at 3-2 behind Raymondville and La Feria.
Standouts for the Lady Tarpons so far this season include Olivia Soliz, Carolina Guevara, Marlisa Martinez, Celia Garza and Mckenzee Young.
Port Isabel next plays at Zapata at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess