McALLEN — It’s rather easy to get caught up watching Sharyland Pioneer’s silky smooth and extremely versatile offense. It’s fast — and venomous.

While the Diamondbacks’ full attack arsenal was on display Saturday, it was their defense — from the front to the back row — that stood out during a convincing 25-14, 19-25, 25-11, 25-13 victory over McAllen High on Saturday. The win kept the Diamondbacks tied for first place with McAllen Memorial in District 31-5A at 8-1, while the Bulldogs dropped to a tie for fourth place with Sharyland High, which lost in four sets to McAllen Memorial, also on Saturday.

McAllen Rowe defeated Valley View to move into sole possession of third place in the district standings. McHi, Rowe and Sharyland were all tied at 5-3 going into this weekend.

Lorelai Hill, Jordan Bravo and Thalia Ochoa were constant presences at the net defensively, getting their hands on a majority of McHi attacks, and libero Lizzy Fina sprawled all over the gym, popping up other attacks to keep rallies alive throughout the match. What was more impressive was the way they were able to transition off difficult saves and into effective counter attacks.

“Whenever we play big games like this, we try to focus on the blocks,” Bravo said, adding that the blocking seemed to have stepped up following a five-set victory over Memorial a week ago. “Even off the block, you want to get there and cover as much net as you can.”

“Jordan did an amazing job covering every seam and our defense was constantly getting there,” Hill said. “They knew what (McHi) has done before and knowing their routine before and what they do really helps.”

The offense was as fluid as it has been all season, led by the steady and polished touch of setter Natalie Reyes, who orchestrated a masterpiece, supported by her host of hitters.

But the defense is what made the difference, smothering McHi’s multiple hitters time and again, clearly frustrating the team and keeping the Bulldogs’ offense from getting into sync the entire match.

Pioneer registered 10 blocks, but that doesn’t include the number of balls the Diamondbacks got their hands on, slowing many of the attacks McHi attempted. The defense also allowed few tips to reach the ground, covering the floor like a rug.

The Diamondbacks were crisp with their passing, consistent with their serves and precisely followed the Volleyball 101 playbook, more often than not, en route to positive outcomes.

McHi, meanwhile, could only muster five runs of more than two points in a row outside of the second set, which they won. Those runs twice came with each Kaydence Pritchard and Sharian Ruiz serving, and each run came with a service ace. The other run occurred with Aleah Saenz serving.

The Bulldogs showed some brilliance defensively at times. Guili Ornelas and Saenz dove and rolled all over the court, putting pause in the Pioneer attack that registered 52 kills. More often than not, however, those saves didn’t lead to counter attacks, and when they did, the Pioneer block was too stingy to get past.

Ochoa paced the offense with 15 kills and three blocks, while Hill added 11 kills and a pair of blocks. Mariana Treviño and the high-flying Katie Salazar contributed nine kills each, while Treviño contributed four blocks and Bravo had six kills and eight blocks.

Pioneer knew it was going up against a McHi team that had been gaining confidence after big wins over Sharyland High and, on Tuesday, McAllen Rowe.

“We were concerned about their confidence being high and wanted to shut it down quickly, in the first couple of points,” Hill said. “I thought we did that and then shut them down pretty easily there at the end.”

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McALLEN — The rumors of McAllen High’s volleyball demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Well, that’s not how first-year head coach Michael Smith put it verbatim after the Bulldogs’ 25-14, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19 victory over McAllen Rowe during a key District 31-5A matchup Tuesday at the McAllen High Gym.

But it was pretty close to what author Mark Twain said regarding his death.

“I’ve got 14 girls here who want to fight,” he said. “A lot of people are ready to count us out but I’ve got 14 girls who want to fight. That’s what it is.”

The win improves McHi to 5-3 in district, tied with McAllen Rowe for third place. Depending on how Sharyland High did, there could be a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots.

it’s also the second straight win ver the district’s Power 5” teams, the five teams that have been ranked in the state according to the Texas Girls Coaches Association poll those teams include McHi, Rowe, McAllen Memorial, Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer

“We talked all week that we gotta outwork them,” Smith said. “Every team that comes on this floor, we want to outwork them. They know what happened the first round in district. We know where we are sitting right now. We know where everybody thinks we’re gonna be, but we are gonna work.”

Senior Ada Sadlier put pretty much the finishing touches on the match, collecting back-to-back kills that gave the Bulldogs a 24-18 advantage during the fourth set. Her second one pounded the court with extra intensity.

“All I was thinking was that I’m going to jump and put the ball on the floor,” Saldier said. “I wanted nothing more in that moment and I succeeded and I’m grateful for that set and grateful for that pass. It was amazing.”

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Cone back later for a full version of this story.

—–Original Message—–

When they play on the volleyball court against one other, McAllen High, McAllen Memorial and McAllen Rowe are as ferocious as can be. City bragging rights, district titles, playoff possibilities show enormous favor to the victors and conquerors of the city. It’s a palpable energy and intensity from the moment the long-standing rivals step onto the field of combat.

But when it comes to the biggest of battles, the Bulldogs, Mustangs and Warriors are comrades of kindness and care.

That’s even more so the case this year as each team will host another of their rivals once during Cancer Awareness Month in October for the annual “Dig 4 A Cure” match. The event, which has taken place for 15 years, has traditionally been a contest between McAllen High and McAllen Memorial. However, this year the schools decided to each host a match.

McHi will host Rowe at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Memorial will welcome McHi at noon Saturday, Oct. 16.Rowe will host Memorial at noon Saturday, Oct. 23. All three schools also happen to be in a playoff battle as the second half of District 31-5A begins Tuesday.

“It’s going to be a real special month and it really takes on a lot more significance in our district. Like our shirts say, ‘In This District, No One Fights Alone,’ McHi head coach Michael Smith said. “We compete against each other but at the end of our day, we have each others’ backs.

“It was a no-brainer to make sure that all three schools are included and it makes sense in a donation standpoint. Before, whatever was raised in one game, we’d like to see triple the amount in three games.”

Funds raised — through concessions, silent auctions, banner sales, raffles and other fund-raising efforts at the different matches will be used for a variety of cancer awareness needs.

“The mission for each school is slightly different but raising funds for awareness is all the same,” McAllen High volleyball booster club president Shawna Ruiz texted to The Monitor. “At McHi.. (it) will be divided into three parts. Part 1, one-third of funds raised is donated to McHi Staff/Admin who has/have cancer. Part 2, one-third of funds raised is donated to a recipient whom the girls have chosen who has/have cancer. Part 3, one-third of funds raised is donated to a local organization or support community to help raise awareness.”

Smith, the Bulldogs’ first-year head coach, like many, has had personal run-ins with those who have suffered from the disease, including his wife’s grandfather and his grandmother, who both fought pancreatic cancer.

“Something we can control is making sure we are there for people,” Smith said. “I like the idea that we are supporting people whose families are going through this and provide some direct support for them and medical advances. It’s something we care a lot about and we want to make sure we can do everything possible to help.”

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MISSION — Thalia Ochoa looked over at Lorelai Hill and mouthed the words “two, that’s right.”

She was referring to arguably the two biggest points of the match as Sharyland Pioneer overcame a 21-16 deficit in the fourth to deny McAllen Memorial a fifth set during a 25-11, 22-25, 25-18, 27-25 victory over the Mustangs on Saturday at Pioneer High School.

The match, which marks the halfway point of district play, leaves Sharyland Pioneer (28-3, 6-1) and the defending district champions McAllen Memorial (29-11, 6-1) atop the district standings. The two will play each other again Tuesday, Oct. 26, at Memorial for the final regular-season match for both squads.

Memorial had set point, trying to force a fifth and deciding match, leading 25-24 when Ochoa and fellow senior Lorelai Hill combined for back-to-back blocks (thus the “two” reference) against Memorial hitters Madisyn Sosa and Amare Hernandez to grab a 26-25 lead. Ochoa then put the set, and match, away with a kill to send a loud crowd into a frenzy after what, at times, was a ferociously intense match.

“The way we run our defense, we try to get ourselves to the line so our back row can work outside of it and we’re talking all the time,” Ochoa said. “We’re trying to make it a little easier for our back row, and we got a little lucky there at the end to get our hands on both of them.”

Facing a taller Memorial team known best for its powerful attacks, the Diamondbacks put their full arsenal of skills on display from an offense that runs the gamut of various attacks to a stellar team defense, overly aggressive serving and a high volleyball IQ, led by setter Natalie Reyes, as they kept the Mustangs from finding any rhythm for most of the day.

Many of Memorial’s attacks came from near the 10-foot line, limiting both the angles and power of those attacks. When the ball was closer to the net, Hernandez, Sosa and Leah Garcia were hard to contain. However, aggressive serves pinpoint precision when it came to where to attack and a slide attack by Jordan Bravo and Hill that was nearly unstoppable when used, was too much for the visiting Mustangs.

Following Pioneer and Memorial at the top of the district standings are McAllen Rowe (5-2) and McAllen High (3-3) and Sharyland High (3-3) fighting for four playoffs spots. The district, widely considered the best in the Valley with its Power 5 squads, has already seen each of those teams ranked in the Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 5A poll.

“It was huge,” Pioneer head coach Laura Cavazos said, adding the win was the best birthday present she could ask for. “We told the girls they we had to come up being on defense and they converted those two attacks into blocks. It got our fans going, our student section going and our team going.”

Overall the Diamondbacks tallied 10 aces and 47 kills. Bravo led the team with 13 kills and two blocks, but a host of other Diamondbacks were racking up stats in the four-set win including Ochoa with 10 kills and five blocks, Hill with eight kills and seven blocks, and Katie Salazar along with Mariana Treviño with six kills apiece. Reyes added 37 assists, 22 digs, three aces and three kills for the Diamondbacks.

Hernandez led Memorial with 19 kills while Sosa added 9 kills and a pair of aces.

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McALLEN – Then, there was one – well, for now.

In a match with teams highlighting completely contrasting, but highly effective, styles, McAllen Memorial claimed a 25-23, 25-17, 25-22 victory over McAllen Rowe in a battle of District 31-5A giants at McAllen Memorial High School.

The win puts Memorial at the top of the District 31-5A standings with a 6-0 mark, the only unbeaten team remaining in the district. It also sets up another monumental matchup with second-place Sharyland Pioneer on Saturday at Pioneer. The Diamondbacks are 5-1.

Rowe’s vaunted defense was stellar once again as Ariana Castro, Vanessa Morales, Mia Mata and a host of Warriors kept popping up what looked to be clear kills from the Mustangs’ and their offensive arsenal. The floor, at ties, were blanketed by diving, green jerseys.

Memorial, however, showed they not only could play defense as well, but also found ways to get the ball more often to their setter for clean attacks. At one point in the second set, Rowe gave Memorial three free balls during a five-point span. Libero Cassie Falcon and defensive specialist Sammi Garcia got to the balls, sent perfect passes for setter Madison Amaya to assist on thunderous blasts from Amare Hernandez, Leah Garcia and Madisyn Sosa.

“I was very impressed with my back row and the setters tonight,” Memorial head coach Ashley Doffing said. “They moved their feet and got to the high rollers and tips they kept sending us.

“We talked to the girls about playing until the whistle blows because they (Rowe) are going to pick up everything. We worked on that during practice and it showed today. “

Tuesday, that game included pinpoint passing that led to Memorial having a large advantage on the attack side. Even the strongest walls collapse after being hit with cannonballs over and over. Because of those relentless attacks, Rowe couldn’t put together enough attack opportunities to counter on their end.

“There were some great rallies during that match,” Doffing said. “The girls knew they had to be patient. It might not come on the first (attack) or the second but they just needed to stay focus and play our game. They did that.”

Hernandez, The Monitor’s 2020 All-Area Newcomer of the Year, led Memorial with 12 kills and two blocks while Leah Garcia added nine kills and a pair of blocks and Madisyn Sosa contributed another six kills. Those three Memorial hitters are all sophomores, along with Gaby Torres, who provided solid defense as well for the defending District 31-5A champions.

Mata led the Warriors with nine kills while Natalia Higareda and Vanessa Morales each tallied five kills.

Memorial came into the match by debuting at No. 14 in Class 5A according to the Texas Girls Coaches Association top 25 released Monday.

Rowe is ranked No. 21 in the latest TGCA poll.

Memorial became the fifth team in an uber powerful District 31-5A to make and appearance in the poll. They close out the first time through district play Saturday at Sharyland Pioneer. The Diamondbacks are 5-1 in district following Tuesday’s win over PSJA Memorial.

Memorial is also awaiting the return of The Monitor’s All-Area Blocker of the Year, Eliane Silberman, who has been playing with the Peruvian national team in the U18 World Championships. Silberman was in attendance Tuesday and said she would return in two weeks, “against McHi, here at home,” she said.

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McAllen Memorial became the fifth team to be state-ranked in the Texas Girls Coaches Association Top 15 poll, released Monday.

The Mustangs did so right before maybe their two biggest matches of the year to date — today at home against McAllen Rowe and Saturday at Sharyland Pioneer. Memorial is undefeated in grueling District 31-5A at 5-0 while Rowe and Pioneer are both 4-1.

A pair of wins by the Mustangs will give them a two-game lead and a little bit of breathing room as the first time through district play comes to an end Saturday — and they all get to do it one more time. Pioneer’s only loss was to Rowe, while Rowe’s single setback came from Sharyland High.

The Mustangs jumped everyone else that had been ranked in the poll, debuting Monday at No. 14 with a 22-11 overall record. Pioneer (26-3) dropped to No. 16 by virtue of being swept last week by McAllen Rowe (23-5), which came in at No. 21. McAllen High, which has lost games to Rowe, Pioneer and Memorial, dropped out of the poll and also finds itself in a big match against former state-ranked Sharyland High.

The Mustangs are highly anticipating the return of The Monitor’s 2020 All-Area Volleyball Blocker of the Year Eliane Silberman within the next week or so. Silberman has missed the entire season thus far while playing for the Peruvian U18 team that recently competed in the Women’s Volleyball World Cup.

Also dropping out of the poll was Mission Veterans after a five-set non-district loss to Edinburg North.

Elsewhere, San Isidro continues its smooth and steady climb in the Class 1A/2A poll, this week at No. 9 with a 24-4 mark.

Powerful Harlingen High remains steadfast in the Class 6A poll. The District 32-6A-leading Cardinals are ranked No. 18 with a 27-5 record.

PSJA High, which debuted last week in the Class 6A poll, dropped out after a five-set loss to Edinburg North before bouncing back with a five-set win against Edinburg High.

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McAllen Memorial’s Vince Gutierrez fired a two-round tournament-low 73-79—152 to capture individual medalist honors for the season-opening McAllen Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Palm View golf course in McAllen.

The junior, playing for the Mustangs’ “B” team, beat McAllen Memorial’s Esteban Gonzalez, who ended the event with a 78-76—154 to pace the Mustangs’ “A” squad to the team title with a 629 total. Sharyland High’s “A” team earned second with a 653, while Sharyland Pioneer capture third at 683. The Mustangs shot a field-low 312 during the second round, played Saturday.

While Gonzalez finished second in the individual segment of the event, teammate Ryan Avila captured fifth with a 156. Pioneer golfers Gabriel Guerrero and Ryan Montoya each penciled a 155 total on their scorecards to lead the Diamondbacks.

Overall, there were 21 rounds of sub-80 played during the first tournament of the season out of 18 teams. McAllen Memorial “A” and Pioneer each tallied five of those rounds, followed by McAllen Memorial “B” (3), Sharyland High “A” (3), Laredo Alexander (2) and Brownsville Veterans, Harlingen South and Laredo United each with one round below 80.

The girls open their season Friday and Saturday, also at Palm View for the McAllen Invitational.

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SAN JUAN – Kaylah Hernandez hit a thunderous kill to open the fifth set Saturday against District 31-6A rival Edinburg High.

Then she glared across the net as if to say “we’re bringing it.”

That’s exactly what the Bears did. In the fifth, however, they didn’t stop bringing it until the set, and match, were over.

After a lackadaisical fourth set that was more cute and cuddly than ferocious and terrorizing, more paddy-cake than power, Hernandez, Johanna Montelongo and a cast of come-to-life hitters exploded in the defining set en route to a PSJA 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-7 win in a battle for first place, and playoff position as the first round through district play came to a close.

“I’ve told the girls that by the time we get to the fifth set, it’s anybody’s game,” PSJA High head coach Carolina Cuellar said. “And the fifth set goes quick and you need to control the game at that point. I’m glad the girls took charge. They reset the tempo and they kept that tempo.

The Bears improved to 7-1 in district play. Edinburg High fell to 6-2. Edinburg Vela is also 7-1 in while Edinburg North is 6-2.

With a 4-2 lead in the final set, Hernandez served seven straight points, highlighted by kills from Abigail Quinones, Jocelyn Serna and Emma Pedraza and a Hernandez ace that pushed their advantage to 11-2.

PSJA High had large leads in each of the two sets the Bears won, but watched as Edinburg climbed back in the two sets it won prior to the tiebreaker. The Bears held a 21-11 lead in the first set before the Bobcats rallied for 10 straight points, with Jasmin Cuellar serving, and a 21-21 tie.

“We knew who their big servers were and we already emphasized that we needed to limit their serves to one or two,” Coach Cuellar said. “But Jasmin and (Hailey) Vega were finding where to hit and our girls were realizing how much control of the game you can have when you know how to spot serve and can do it effectively.”

That, however, didn’t continue in the fifth set. After falling in five sets to Edinburg North on Tuesday, one day after the Bears cracked the Texas Girls Coaches Association Top 25 Poll at No. 25 in Class 6A, the Bears opened and closed the set by swinging their way to victory.

“They didn’t want to lose after the loss to North,” Cuellar said. “We have nine hitters on the team and we need to utilize the. If you play scared you’re going to lose. You’ve got to swing. It was good to see them bounce back in the fifth.”

Jocelyn Serna led the Bears with a game-high 20 kills, followed by Montelongo with 16, including a back row kill that kept the Bears’ early rally in the final set going. Hernandez added seven kills to go with seven blocks, four aces and six digs in an all-round performance.

Cuellar paced Edinburg High with 18 kills, 14 blocks and three aces. Emily Carranco added nine kills to go with 14 blocks and three aces and Hailey Vega contributed a team-high five aces along with 35 assists, four kills and 16 digs.

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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.

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Before the high school volleyball season began, District 31-6A coaches targeted PSJA High as the team to beat in their district.

Nearly midway through the district season, the Bears are confirming those prognostications.

PSJA, with a 17-8 overall record according to the poll, made its debut in the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association Poll, appearing at No. 25 in Monday’s newest rankings.

“It’s definitely a blessing,” fourth-year head coach Carolina Cuellar said. “These girls have worked hard and have truly connected together as a team. They understand there’s a still al lot of work that needs to be done and every match will be a battle.”

The Bears are 6-0 in the district and have a pair of big matches this week, against playoff contenders Edinburg North today and Edinburg High on Saturday. The Saturday match will end the first round of district play.

Harlingen High remained ranked this week at No. 19. The Cardinals, considered among the favorites to win District 32-6A, plays another favorite, Los Fresnos, today.

Four teams remain ranked in the wild District 31-5A. Sharyland Pioneer remains the highest-ranked RGV team in any class at No. 7 with a 26-2 record. The Diamondbacks defeated No. 21 McAllen High in five sets last week, giving the Bulldogs back-to-back district losses for the first time since the 2015 season. No. 23 McAllen Rowe beat McAllen High in the previous match.

Sharyland High defeated McAllen Rowe in a five-setter Saturday, four days after McAllen Memorial defeated Sharyland High, also in five, the previous Tuesday. Sharyland dropped out of the Class 5A poll this week.

Today, McAllen Memorial plays at McAllen High, while Rowe travels to Pioneer as the “Power 5” teams in that district beat on each other for the four playoff spots available. Memorial and Pioneer are the only two teams undefeated in District 31-5A play, each at 3-0.

Mission Veterans Memorial, despite dropping a five-set non-district match to Edinburg North, sat at No.19 with a 20-6 record.

San Isidro remained solid at No. 9 in the Class 1A/2A poll with a 22-4 mark.

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