KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — For the first time since 2011, the Harlingen South Lady Hawks are heading to the playoffs.
After winning the first two sets, Harlingen South held off a furious Brownsville Hanna rally.
The case was simple for Harlingen South, win and they would be in. Hanna, meanwhile, was playing for a district title with their playoff spot already secured.
Leading 14-13 in the fifth set, South junior Mikela Mireles served up the match-winning kill to give the Lady Hawks’ a dramatic five-set win, 25-18, 25-21,19-25,10-25,15-13, and punch their postseason ticket, making the South gym into a madhouse.
“Our goal was not to give up,” South coach Anissa Lucio said. “We knew we were going to get a tough team tonight and we knew what was on the line, and our girls just finished. After the fifth set it was us just understanding how to control our side, and our girls did that and they played together towards the end.”
With the whirlwind district, South controlled its own destiny; such was the case with Brownsville Rivera, which locked up its playoff spot with a win over Harlingen High.
Rivera and South ended up with 4-6 records and will have a coin flip to decide which team will be the fourth and third seeds. South will meet either Edinburg North or Edinburg High in the bi-district round, depending on the seeding.
“This is something the girls have worked for since the offseason,” Lucio said. “They deserve it, they were so determined, and that is what we needed, they really wanted to finish and they really wanted to make the playoffs.”
Mireles, who also happened to turn 17 years old Tuesday, celebrated her birthday and a win. The junior stepped in for one of her best outings of the year with a 32-kill, 25-dig performance.
“This is amazing to be able to make history and make the playoffs,” Mireles said. “We won in five sets, and it is an amazing feeling, I’m so proud of my team and we knew we had to keep pushing, we knew what we had to do. The celebration was crazy.”
The resurgence from Harlingen South has been an impressive one. After going 1-5 through the first round of district play, the Lady Hawks turned things around by winning three straight and are playing their best volleyball of the season at the right time.
“We have come a long way, and we all have fought very hard,” said Mya Aguirre, who checked in a solid outing with 11 kills, 23 assists and 13 digs. “I’m proud of my team. I wouldn’t have any other group of girls by my side.”
The loss for Hanna locked up the district title outright for Los Fresnos, which swept San Benito to end its season. Hanna will be the No. 2 seed and will meet Edinburg Vela in the bi-district round next week.