McALLEN — With McAllen High trying to complete an improbable comeback climbing back from a 2-0 set deficit and leading 13-10 during the fifth set, McAllen Memorial’s Amare Hernandez entered the game with one thought on her mind.
“All I could think was about last year and me hitting the ball out and losing to them,” the sophomore big hitter said. “When I got back in I just wanted to help my team.”
That is now a far distant memory, replaced by a far more enjoyable one for her. Hernandez sparked a 7-2 run down the final stretch and Memorial — the only District 31-5A “Power 5” team that hasn’t been state ranked by the Texas Girls Coaches Association — became the only district undefeated team after an intense 25-18, 25-18, 17-25, 10-25, 17-15 victory Tuesday at McAllen High.
The win improves Memorial to 4-0 in district, the only unbeaten team following McAllen Rowe’s sweep of previously unbeaten Sharyland Pioneer, also Tuesday. Rowe and Pioneer are each 3-1 in district.
During the final run, Hernandez four kills and a tip that took McHi by surprise. One of her kills saved match point. Madisyn Sosa added an ace to give Memorial a 16-15 lead before Hernandez, The Monitor’s 2020 All-Area Newcomer of the Year, put the game away in front of a raucous crowd that stayed to watch the match that took more than 2 1/2 hours to compete.
McHi dropped to 1-3 in the district and has lost all three of its matches to the Power 5 teams it has played – Memorial (5 sets), Pioneer (5 sets) and Rowe (4 sets).
The Mustangs went on the attack early and often in the first two sets Tuesday, keeping the Bulldogs from getting in synch and having difficulties passing the ball to set up its aggressive offense. Tied at 11 in the second set, Madison Amaya chalked up two aces on a 6-0 run as Memorial opened to an 18-11 lead en route to a set two victory.
Very few people left the gym despite the 2-0 lead, however, not having any idea that the match wasn’t even halfway done at that point.
First year Bulldogs head coach Michael Smith made changes in the lineup throughout the match and found success as McHi let off the power somewhat, not forcing it, and worked more on precision, using the entire court to keep Memorial from getting the ball to Hernandez and the rest of the artillery. The Bulldogs also turned it up on serving as Kaydence Pritchard, Sharian Ruiz, Avery Scurlock and Giuli Ornelas each had extended service runs during their two wins.
Hernandez finished with 25 kills, pounding away at the McHi defense that had a solid evening. Hernandez and Sosa, however were too much to contend with. Celina Saenz led McHi with nine kills, time and again effectively attacking different parts of the court.
According to stats provided by both schools, Memorial finished the night with 45 kills while the Bulldogs finished with 31, just six more than Hernandez. The Mustangs also won the attack department with 208 compared to 164 for the Bulldogs.
Hernandez added two blocks while Sosa also contributed three aces, one block and six digs. Amaya tallied 27 assists and three aces and Cassie Falcon also served two aces.
Shiela Zamora followed Saenz in the kill department with six and Ada Sadlier added four.