EDINBURG — From the first point to the last, the Lyford Bulldogs screamed at the top of their lungs, celebrating and smiling.
The Bulldogs brought the energy with them from Lyford and came back with an Area Championship in a thrilling five set match with the Hebbronville Longhorns. Lyford won by a score of 25-15, 20-25, 27-25, 18-25, 15-8 at Edinburg High School Thursday night.
Lyford and Hebbronville exchanged early blows in the nervy fifth set. One of Marley Perez’s hardest kills of the night helped begin a run for the Bulldogs and they would extend the lead to 9-3.
The big lead sucked the energy out of the Longhorns as Lyford closed in on the area title.
“They took it point by point,” Lyford head coach Rebekah Perez said. “If we get a lead, they get comfortable, they start to play more relaxed and that is how I want them to play.”
Marley Perez led the District 32-3A champions in kills with 143 coming into tonight. No one hit harder than Marley Perez Thursday night. Sophomore Kariall Martinez also hit the ball well for Lyford and won points with well-placed serves.
Lyford’s middle Heather May also had a standout performance. May and Clarissa Salazar took care of the net. May provided clutch points at the net down the stretch in the pivotal third set to give the Bulldogs a 27-25 win in the set.
“I think going in with a good mentality and saying, ‘I do not play for myself, I play for my team. I play for everyone, my coach and the person next to me,’ so whatever is going to help my team is what is best,” May said.
Defensively, freshman libero Danae Garcia helped neutralize Hebbronville’s hitters as well as junior Dakota Martinez, junior Donyalle Rodriguez and senior Selena Martinez. Junior Kendra Coleman provided assists to the hitters.
The Bulldogs’ team spirit and comradery were on display in the first set after going down 7-3, Lyford rallied and went on a 17-3 run, taking a 20-10 lead and eventually winning the opening set.
“I think we came out dominate,” Perez said. “I think that was an important thing for us, to come out explosive, because we have a tendency to sometimes not do that.”
Perez said the momentum helped lead the team throughout the match.
Lyford awaits the winner of IDEA Donna and Corpus Christi London. They meet at 7:30 p.m. at Kingsville King.