MISSION – Kenisha Martinez wanted to push the memory of not making the 2021 playoffs as far away as possible.
Cranking up 44 wins (just 5 losses), a title in arguably South Texas’ most competitive district, numerous accolades and a trip to the Class 5A Sweet 16 was remedy for a perfect cure. Because of her dominance on the court and her role in turning the Rattlers into a state power, Martinez, a sophomore, has been named The Monitor’s 2022 All-Area Volleyball Player of the Year.
Whether it was scoring on her thunderous attacks, her missile launching serves of her deft footwork and passing, Martinez put together an impressive season, both individually and with a team that, up until its Sweet 16 loss, led the UIL in victories across the state. The Rattlers at one point were 7-3 on the season before going on a 33-match win streak. In the playoffs, they won their first three matches in 3-0 blowouts before getting beat by Liberty Hill.
Martinez’s numbers were jaw-dropping on a team that fielded more than just one superstar. She led the team in kills per set (4.6), digs per set (3.2), serving aces (98), aces per set (0.8), total digs (406), total kills (584) and was second in receptions (389).
Even during the final match of the season, against a Liberty Hill squad that fielded a nonstop front row of 6-footers and taller, Martinez led her Rattlers with 12 kills, 15 digs and 11 serve receptions without an error.
“You knew she was special as a freshman, and with Kassandra right next to her,” Sharyland High head coach Raul Castillo said of his two sensational sophomores. “It hurt to have that talent and know they head high expectations and not be able to get over the hump last year. But this year, this year was great.”
Martinez said her freshman year was a whirlwind filled with pressures – not only to fight for a playoff spot in South Texas’ most difficult district, but also with self-inflicted pressure as one of the new kids on the court.
“My mentality was different last year. I was new to it. Everybody wanted to make the playoffs and we didn’t,” Martinez said. “As a freshman, I wanted to do everything. I wanted to prove to my team that I deserved my spot and I wanted to earn it.”
Also as a freshman, the tiniest things can turn into distractions and that’s an area Martinez overcame this past season.
“Not a lot of small things got into my head,” she said. “I was more mature on the court this year.”
With distraction aside, Martinez said her plan is to continue working on her serves, and her vertical.
“I didn’t do a lot of vertical workouts the previous year but the started to add jump squats and weights and started to see the improvement. The higher you can jump, the more vision you have to see where to hit,” said Martinez, who was also invited in March to try out for the U19 Mexico national team. “I also want to improve my serves. I don’t sometimes serve consistently to help us and that’s something we can control.”