Clutch gene, leadership lead Mireles to VMS All-STAR MVP honor
KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN–Junior Mikela Mireles has overcome a lot during the past year. Her sophomore year was cut short due to a season-ending knee injury.
Mireles recovered from her injury and came back stronger than before, and emerged as one of the dominant hitters in the Rio Grande Valley.
She was a driving force for the Lady Hawks and had a huge hand in the team’s playoff run. Mireles amassed 602 kills, 513 digs, 35 aces and 30 blocks.
With her strong season, Mireles was named this year’s Valley Morning Star All-STAR Most Valuable Player.
“This means a lot to me, especially winning this as a junior,” Mireles said. “I have worked hard to get back to where I am now after only playing six district games last season. This is a big accomplishment for me, I’m thankful.”
“When I got the news from Coach Lucio, I couldn’t stop smiling,” Mireles said. “I was so excited to hear the news from coach.”
Mireles displayed leadership and a clutch gene in the biggest moments for the Lady Hawks. During their first meeting against Harlingen High, South went down two sets and stormed back to force a fifth set, and Mireles was there to seal the comeback with her match-winning kill.
It didn’t stop there. Against Brownsville Hanna, Mireles delivered the final kill to send the Lady Hawks to the playoffs.
Looking back on her junior season, while just reaching the playoffs was an accomplishment, winning in the postseason is what Mireles remembers.
“Making the playoffs is my best memory, of course, but us winning in the playoffs and going on a run is something I will look back at and use to build going forward. We didn’t want people to think we got lucky, we wanted them to know we made it here for a reason.” Mireles said.
Lucio named Valley Morning Star All-STAR Coach of the Year
The 2018 season was one to remember for Harlingen South, as the young Lady Hawks grew up before the fans’ eyes and emerged as one of the best stories of the year.
Second-year coach Anissa Lucio directed the Lady Hawks to a playoff berth for the first time since the 2011 season.
Lucio, who spent her first three seasons at Weslaco High, is now in her fifth year as a head coach and has the Lady Hawks volleyball program back to where it belongs.
With the playoff run and a postseason win under her belt, Lucio was named the Valley Morning Star All-STAR Coach of the Year.
“It is an honor to receive this award,” Lucio said. “All the credit goes to the kids, I’m not the one on the court, they are, and this was a goal for me and I was able to achieve it. We are already back at work and getting ready for next year, and we have a lot coming back.”
South got off to a slow start in district play with a 1-5 district record, but turned its season around after a win against Brownsville Rivera.
And that is where the magical run began. The Lady Hawks won out in the regular season. In the finale at home against Brownsville Hanna, the case was simple: win and the team would be in the playoffs.
“The best memory for me was the second half of the district season, and how we turned things around and the kids started playing up to their potential,” Lucio said.
South beat Hanna to punch its playoff ticket, then earned a bi-district title after beating Edinburg High in the Class 6A playoffs before bowing out to McAllen High in the area round.
“It was rewarding for me as a coach to see our girls play the way they did. We started to peak at the right time and that is what we told the girls, now is the time to peak and play well.” Lucio said.
San Benito’s Alysa Naranjo tabbed VMS Offensive Player of the Year
Entering the 2018 season, San Benito was looking to replace a pair of its best hitters in Kayleen Reyes and Crystal Ibarra.
That question was answered earlier this year at the Donna ISD Tournament.
Senior Alysa Naranjo answered the bell and led the Lady ’Hounds to a tournament title, turning some heads with a 19-kill, 18-dig performance against Edcouch-Elsa in the championship match.
Not only was Naranjo big in the title match, but she was dominant throughout the tournament. Naranjo amassed 88 kills through six games.
“This year was one of the best years I have had,” Naranjo said. “I felt like our setter, Ariel Garcia, and I had great chemistry on the court and we worked together, and without her I wouldn’t have been able to get as many kills as I did.”
The offensive firepower didn’t stop there. The hard-hitting Naranjo collected 624 kills and 411 digs.
“I’m very blessed to have a player like Alysa on my team,” Medina said. “She has a lot of experience and is one of our leaders and go-to girls. A lot of the girls look up to her, she is a great role model and leader,” Lady ’Hounds coach Ruby Medina said earlier this year of Naranjo.
With the strong offensive season, Naranjo was named the Valley Morning Star’s All-STAR offensive player of the year.
“When I was a freshman, I saw the older girls winning different awards, and I thought, wow, OK, what do I have to do to get there?” Naranjo said. “It was really just putting in all the work and being able to be consistent.”
With Naranjo being named the offensive player of the year, it marks the second straight year a Lady ’Hounds player has brought home the award. Last year, Ibarra was given the same award.
“Last year Crystal won it, and now I was able to win it for myself and our school. It just shows that our program continues to grow and our coach knows what she is doing, from all the drills to the practices being intense.” Naranjo said.
Santa Rosa’s Salce named libero of the year
Santa Rosa continues to be the team to beat in District 32-3A, as the Lady Warriors captured their third straight district title this past fall.
Junior libero Juliet Salce had a key hand in Santa Rosa’s success. The junior was a standout at the libero position and was named this year’s Valley Morning Star All-STAR Libero of the Year.
“It means a lot to me to receive this award,” Salce said. “I have been working hard to get recognized and I feel I was able to improve my game this season. Winning this award shows that hard work pays off, and the work doesn’t stop, I’m ready to get back to work.”
Salce, who will return for her senior year, is looking forward to her senior year.
“I want to be the best I can be,” Salce said. “I want to play at the college level one day, all that means so much to me.”
This year, Salce saw her leadership role increase, and that, along with her knowledge of the game, helped not only her but her team as well.
It all came together this year as Santa Rosa went 16-0 in district play.
“I stepped up this year as a leader for my team,” Salce said. “From my freshman year till now I have grown as a player, and I’m able to speak up and lead my team. Looking back, I can’t pick a specific memory, I had so many great ones, but I will probably look back at our last district game and remember the feeling of going undefeated in district play.”
Lyford’s Kayleen May named All-STAR newcomer of the year
Junior middle hitter Kayleen May took the next step in her volleyball career in 2018. The multisport athlete contributed right away this past season for the Lyford Lady Bulldogs.
May helped the Lady ’Dogs to a 12-4 district record along with a playoff berth. May led the team in blocks with 57, was second on the team in kills with 65 and fourth on the team in attacks with 158.
With her strong junior campaign, May was named this year’s Valley Morning Star All-STAR Newcomer of the Year.
“I’m thankful for my team and blessed to receive this award,” May said. “I was able to improve this year on the court, and Coach (Lisa) Lancaster does a great job preparing us each week.”
May is the ideal athlete for a coach: good attitude, is hard-working and is coachable, and continues to improve.
“(Kayleen) is a quicker learner,” Lancaster said. “She can take what works and what doesn’t and will adapt to the game situation. She has improved consistently throughout her time in our volleyball program, and we are looking forward to her and what she will bring her senior year.”
May, eager to build on this campaign, is ready for her senior season. All three of her years have been played under Lancaster, making it just as special.
“Coach has great intentions for us,” May said. “We get right to work Aug. 1.”
Valley Morning Star First Team:
Taylor Gomez—Rio Hondo
Sarah Garcia—San Benito
Karina Diaz—La Feria
Taegan Dickey—Harlingen High
Sarah Martinez—Lyford
Emily Gonzalez—Santa Rosa
Ariel Garcia—San Benito
Amber Garcia—Rio Hondo
Valley Morning Star Second Team:
Alina Prado—Harlingen High
Desiree Sanchez—Harlingen High
Mya Aguirre—Harlingen South
Jerrica Rojas—Lyford
Desiree Guerra—Santa Rosa
Devany Castillo—San Benito
Felicity Watson—La Feria
Dolores Mendoza—Harlingen South