La Feria’s five-set volleyball victory Saturday at home against Hidalgo was huge.
Still, Lionettes coach Rebea Fraga is reminding her team there remains a lot of important work to be done as district play continues.
The Lionettes took over sole possession of the District 32-4A lead at 9-1 with Saturday’s 25-14, 22-25, 23-25, 25-12, 15-12 triumph over the Lady Pirates, who had been the 32-4A leaders and now are 8-2.
La Feria lost at Hidalgo in five games Sept. 11 during the first round of district, so Saturday’s win was sweet. It gives the Lionettes an opportunity to finish as 32-4A champions for the third straight year.
“One of our goals this season was to win the district championship (again),” Fraga said. “When we lost to Hidalgo in the first round, we knew we had to win out for a chance to be co-champs. Thanks to Progreso’s win over Hidalgo (last Tuesday, and our victory over the Lady Pirates), we are now in a position to win it outright.
“After our win on Saturday, we reminded the team that it’s hard to get to the top and stay there,” Fraga added. “We encouraged them to enjoy the moment, but emphasized that the season isn’t over yet. We need to remain focused, determined, and maximize our effort as a team.”
Karina Diaz and Natalie Gonzalez are captains for the Lionettes.
“I believe the whole team is displaying leadership qualities in their own way, whether it is in practice, from the bench or on the court,” Fraga said of her players.
There are four match dates remaining on the 32-4A schedule, which continues at 6:30 tonight with Zapata at La Feria, Port Isabel at Hidalgo, Grulla at Rio Hondo and Raymondville at Progreso.
Behind La Feria and Hidalgo in the 32-4A standings are Zapata (7-3), Rio Hondo (5-5), Grulla (5-5), Port Isabel (2-8), Raymondville (2-8) and Progreso (2-8). The top four teams from 32-4A advance to the playoffs, which begin Oct. 29.
CRUCIAL WEEK: The Brownsville Lopez Lady Lobos of District 32-5A are keeping alive their quest to reach the playoffs for the third season in a row.
They occupy fourth place in the 32-5A standings with a 5-4 record. Ahead of Lopez are Edcouch-Elsa (9-0), Brownsville Veterans Memorial (7-2) and Donna High (7-2). Behind the Lady Lobos are Mercedes (4-5), Brownsville Porter (3-6), Brownsville Pace (1-8) and Valley View (0-9).
Five 32-5A match dates remain.
It’s a crucial week for the Lady Lobos as they play at 7 p.m. today at home against Pace and go to Porter at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Also at 7 p.m. today in 32-5A, it’s Donna High at E-E, Mercedes at Brownsville Veterans and Valley View at Porter.
Several weeks ago, Daya Venegas took over as Lopez’s main coach. She had been the assistant under Jacquelynn Touchet. They switched places, and now Touchet is the assistant.
Venegas and Touchet played together at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, and each brings a wealth of volleyball knowledge to the Lady Lobos, who have seen their program experience a resurgence in recent years.
“I think we can make it to the playoffs because we have Coach Daya and Coach Touchet, and they help us a lot with the team,” said Lopez’s Aileen Aguilar, a junior outside hitter. “They’re very good coaches.”
Venegas said her players are putting forth a supreme effort to do well in a tough district.
“If we keep playing the way we are playing, we have a chance to make it to the playoffs,” Venegas said. “I keep telling the girls we need to continue improving so we can move up (in the standings). I don’t want us to keep finishing fourth (in our district), because then we have to play the No. 1 team (from District 31-5A in bi-district, which is usually Mission Veterans, the Valley’s top-ranked squad).”
The Lady Lobos face a competitive crosstown rival tonight in Pace, which on Saturday took E-E to the limit in a 25-22, 25-17, 16-25, 21-25, 15-13 win by the Lady Yellowjackets.
When the Lady Lobos and Lady Vikings played during the first round of district Sept. 15 at Pace, Lopez prevailed 22-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 15-11.
32-6A UPDATE: District 32-6A enjoyed an open date on Saturday and will begin the second round of conference play at 6:30 tonight.
Tonight’s 32-6A matches have San Benito at Harlingen High, Harlingen South at Los Fresnos and Brownsville Rivera at Brownsville Hanna.
Los Fresnos is the 32-6A leader at 5-0, while Hanna is in second place at 4-1. After those two, it’s San Benito and Rivera at 2-3 each, and Harlingen South and Harlingen High at 1-4 each.
Including tonight, five match dates remain in 32-6A.