By HENRY MILLER | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — McAllen High needed less than 75 minutes in its home gym to dispatch of Harlingen South in the Class 6A Area matchup Friday.
The Bulldogs won in straight sets, 25-14, 25-16, 25-20 and weren’t really seriously threatened.
Lexi Gonzalez again led the team in kills with 27 to go with a pair of blocks, but it was clear during several points in the game where the Bulldogs played soft and sloppy that coach Paula Dodge wasn’t as festive as many would’ve thought, considering the score.
“I’m sorry,” she said following the game. “I’m not very happy right now.”
The visiting Hawks were never a threat, with only one consistent hitter. They trailed 19-9 in the first set before bringing the Harlingen South crowd to their feet and pull within 20-14 on a mini 5-1 that was kept going on two McHi service errors and a hitting error. Gonzalez then helped put the game with three kills in the final five points to head into the second set.
“We play as a team, there’s not just one of us,” said Gonzalez, a junior who has had a dominant season this year for the Bulldogs. “I’m happy we are able to get the win.”
In the third set, again the Bulldogs pulled out to a 20-11 lead before the visitors again put together a run, this time a 9-4 run to pull within 24-20. During that time the Bulldogs had three kill attempts go long and one service error.
With the score 24-20, senior outside hitter Damaris Llanas registered her ninth kill of the night to close the match and give the Bulldogs the three-set sweep.
Sophomore setter Madi Helmcamp had 38 assists, eight digs and a pair of blocks for the Bulldogs.
The night, however, belonged to Gonzalez.
“She played very well,” Dodge said. “She had a good night.”
The Bulldogs didn’t look like the team that won 35-plus matches, finished second in the district and took the No. 9 Class 6A state-ranked McAllen Memorial squad to five sets twice, or the team that defeated a powerful McAllen Rowe team in three sets the past two times the teams met.
Next up for the Bulldogs is Laredo United with time and place to be determined today. The Longhorns easily defeated McAllen Rowe in the first round in McAllen and are led by three 5-foot-11 hitters.