NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Edinburg Vela had big leads early in both of the sets they won Tuesday night against Brownsville Hanna. The Golden Eagles took a page from the SaberCats book in the fifth set, however, to storm to a 15-4 win and advance to the area round of the 6A playoffs.

Both teams ended their regular season within reach of outright district titles. Edinburg Vela finished tri-champions with Edinburg High and Edinburg North. The Eagles couldn’t catch Los Fresnos, dropping their final regular-season game just a week ago.

The visiting Eagles used that loss as motivation to come from behind and hold off the SaberCats 27-25, 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 15-4.

Junior Odalys Gonzalez led the way for Hanna with 28 kills and Ari Arceneaux wasn’t far behind with 21 kills of her own.

“The last district game that we lost, we knew that we had something to lose,” Gonzalez said. “But today we played to win. We put all the work into practice and it showed off on the court. We wanted to get co-district champs but we didn’t accomplish that so we wanted to advance instead.”

The tall, lanky junior and physical senior Arceneaux took over in the second and third frames to power the Eagles to decisive wins.

Tabitha Fernandez had 42 assists and was able to keep the SaberCats on their heels with sets to the Eagles’ main hitters from different looks.
Hanna coach Ansgar Hagermann wasn’t surprised his team needed all five sets. Extra drama has been the blueprint all season for Hanna who finished 6-2 in 32-6A.

“All of our matches have been like that,” Hagermann said. “I don’t know any better. I want to win in four or three but that never happens.”

Vela almost didn’t make it to the fifth set after watching a 10-4 lead slip away in the fourth set. The SaberCats defense played their best in the third and fourth as senior libero Julia Cordon was able to step up and get digs on Arceneaux and Gonzalez.

Cordon led the defense with 39 digs.

She added an ace in the fourth to help but away their biggest set win of the evening at 25-18.
Glenys Maldonado was the top attacker for the SaberCats with 38 kills. Miranda Negrete had nine kills and Analisa Campos had 36 assists for Vela.
Along with secondary scoring woes, Vela was hampered by serving and hitting errors.

Hanna went back on the attack in the fifth set, jumping out to a 6-0 start before Vela could catch their breath.

“They were very down after the district loss because we fought so hard for it all season,” Hagermann. “It was amazing we had like one week to get it out of our system. We have been chasing this bi-district title for five years. We’ve always gone out in the first round and been close every single time, but today it was meant to be.”

The Golden Eagles win was part of District 32-6A’s sweep of the 31-6A playoff qualifiers. Hanna, Brownsville Rivera, Los Fresnos and Harlingen South all earned area round appearances.

Brownsville Hanna faces the winner of Laredo Alexander who swept PSJA North Tuesday night.

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VALLEY HS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE

Tuesday’s Games

Class 6A bi-district

McAllen Memorial def. Laredo United South 25-10, 25-21, 25-19

Brownsville Hanna def. Edinburg Vela 25-27, 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 15-4

Harlingen South def. Edinburg High 19-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-14

McAllen High def. Laredo LBJ 18-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-9

Laredo Alexander def. PSJA North 25-10, 25-16, 25-21

Laredo United def. McAllen Rowe 25-17, 25-12, 25-17

Los Fresnos def. Weslaco High 23-25, 25-14, 25-12, 25-7

Class 5A bi-district

Mission Veterans def. Brownsville Lopez 25-15, 25-9, 25-18

Edcouch-Elsa def. PSJA Memorial 25-17, 25-16, 25-21

Donna High def. Sharyland High 25-19, 15-25, 25-14, 25-16

Brownsville Vets def. Sharyland Pioneer 25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 27-25

Class 4A bi-district

La Feria def. Ingleside 25-22, 25-17, 25-18

Orange Grove def. Hidalgo 19-25, 25-16, 25-23, 25-21

Class 3A bi-district

Falfurrias def. Santa Rosa. 25-18, 25-10, 25-18

VALLEY HS VOLLEYBALL BOX SCORES

Tuesday’s Games

6A bi-district

McALLEN HIGH DEF. LAREDO LBJ

18-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-9

McAllen High: Lexi Gonzalez 23 kills, 10 digs; Damaris Llanas 10 digs, 8 digs, 2 aces; Madison Helmcamp 42 assists, 3 kills, 9 digs, 3 aces; Celina Saenz 12 kills, 2 aces, 3 blocks, 1 dig; Audrey Zamora 12 digs.

6A bi-district

BROWNSVILLE HANNA DEF. EDINBURG VELA

25-27, 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 15-4

EDINBURG VELA: Julia Cordon 39 digs; Glenys Maldonado 38 kills, 13 digs; Miranda Negrete 12 digs, 9 kills; Analisa Campos 36 assists, 14 digs; Olivia Vega 3 blocks; Nathalie Gonzalez 3 blocks, 2 kills; Gabby Avila 9 assists; Alyssa Muniz 11 digs

6A bi-district

HARLINGEN SOUTH DEF. EDINBURG HIGH

19-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-14

EDINBURG HIGH: Renee Ponce 32 assists, 18 digs, 3 kills, 1 ace; Bailey Buckner 14 digs, 8 kills; Zarina Rodriguez 11 kills, 3 blocks, 2 digs; Bryahne Salinas 2 digs, 1 kill; Victoria Fuentes 19 kills, 8 digs, 4 blocks, 4 aces; Julissah Santa Maria 4 digs, 3 assists, 1 kill; Kristen Salinas 15 digs, 2 assists, 1 ace; Hanna Vega 21 digs, 1 kills; Arianna Guerra 34 digs

5A bi-district

BROWNSVILLE VETERANS DEF. SHARYLAND PIONEER

25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 27-25

SHARYLAND PIONEER: Daizy Coronado 16 kills, 5 blocks, 3 aces; Daniela Alvarez 18 kills, 5 blocks; Elizabeth Fina 30 digs, 4 kills; Natalie Reyes 49 assists, 20 digs; Samantha Ayala 19 digs, 6 kills, 3 blocks; Shelby Cavazos 31 digs, 3 aces

5A bi-district

EDCOUCH-ELSA DEF. PSJA MEMORIAL

25-17, 25-16, 25-21

EDCOUCH-ELSA: Sarah Flores 11 digs, 4 assists, 3 aces, 2 kills; Arissa Cavazos 15 digs; Veronica Elizondo 7 kills, 7 digs, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 ace; Maegan Acevedo 20 assists, 8 digs, 2 kills, 2 aces; Paloma Ybarra 10 kills, 11 digs, 9 assists, 2 aces; Neida Ybarra 7 kills, 2 digs, 2 blocks

5A bi-district

MISSION VETERANS DEF. BROWNSVILLE LOPEZ

25-15, 25-9, 25-18

MISSION VETERANS: Jackie Howell 13 digs, 12 kills, 1 ace, 1 block; Makenzie Gerlach 15 digs, 12 kills, 3 aces; Kassy Lerma 15 kills, 9 digs, 5 blocks, 1 ace; Valerie de la Fuente 28 assists, 2 aces; Ronnie Cantu 13 assists, 8 digs, 1 ace; Bella Dominguez 19 digs, 1 ace

Class 6A area round

McAllen Memorial vs. Brownsville Rivera, TBD

Brownsville Hanna vs. Laredo Alexander, TBD

McAllen High vs. Harlingen South, TBD

Los Fresnos vs. Laredo United, TBD

Class 5A area round

Brownsville Vets vs. Gregory-Portland, TBD

Mission Veterans vs. Victoria West, TBD

Edcouch-Elsa vs. Flour Bluff, TBD

Friday, Nov. 2

Donna High vs. Corpus Christi Veterans, at Kingsville High, 6 p.m.

Class 4A Bi-District

La Feria vs. Pleasanton

VALLEY HS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFF SCORES

Monday’s Games

Class 6A Bi-District

Brownsville Rivera def. Edinburg North 27-25, 22-25, 25-14, 25-20

Class 4A Bi-District

Rockport-Fulton def. Zapata 25-27, 25-23, 25-19, 25-15

Sinton def. Rio Hondo 25-16, 25-11, 25-6

VALLEY HS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFF BOX SCORE

Class 6A Bi-district

BROWNSVILLE RIVERA DEF. EDINBURG NORTH

27-25, 23-25, 25-13, 25-20

EDINBURG NORTH: Natalie Rodriguez 20 kills, 40 digs; Evana Ramos 82 digs, 7 kills, 3 aces; Jessica Dreyer 20 assists, 5 digs; Kelsey Limas 11 assists, 14 digs; Jasmine Barajas 7 kills, 7 digs; Jojo Burrows 7 kills, 5 blocks, 5 digs; Cortney Ortiz 7 digs, 3 kills, 2 blocks

VALLEY HS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Oct. 30

Class 6A Bi-District

McAllen High vs. Laredo LBJ at Roma Middle School, 6 p.m.

McAllen Memorial vs. Laredo United South at Roma, 6:30 p.m.

Brownsville Hanna at Edinburg Vela, 6:30 p.m.

Edinburg High at Harlingen South, 6:30 p.m.

PSJA North vs. Laredo Alexander at Corpus Christi Ray, 7 p.m.

Los Fresnos at Weslaco High, 7 p.m.

Laredo United at McAllen Rowe, 7 p.m.

Class 5A Bi-District

Brownsville Lopez at Mission Veterans, 7 p.m.

PSJA Memorial at Edcouch-Elsa, 7 p.m.

Sharyland High vs. Donna High at PSJA Southwest, 7 p.m.

Sharyland Pioneer vs. Brownsville Vets at Weslaco East, 7 p.m.

Class 4A Bi-District

La Feria vs. Ingleside at Kingsville King, 6 p.m.

Hidalgo vs. Orange Grove at Kingsville King, 8 p.m.

Class 3A Bi-District

Santa Rosa vs. Falfurrias at McAllen High, 7 p.m.

TAPPS Class 5A Area
Brownsville St. Joseph vs. Houston Cypress Christian at Odem, 6 p.m.

NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN — During practices leading up to McAllen Rowe’s 2018 postseason, the gym was loud. The music blasted through the speakers, loud enough that the Jonas Brothers could be heard on the other side of the gym’s closed doors.

Still, the Warriors passed, set and hit like under normal conditions.

Coach Magda Canales didn’t want her team to rely only on communicating verbally. She wanted her players to trust that their teammates would be in the right spot.

McAllen Rowe volleyball is in a familiar spot, heading to the playoffs with plenty of steam from an intense district schedule. This time they are carrying a handful of first-time varsity players and a slew of underclassmen.

Rowe’s postseason journey will begin tonight at home against familiar opposition Laredo United.

This version of the Warriors is led by four seniors who have varying amounts of postseason experience, including Jackie Alanis, one of the Valley’s best hitters. The reigning Monitor Player of the Year has 869 kills (8.1 per set) to lead the offense, while Victoria Galindo leads the team in blocks with 129 total blocks and 123 solo blocks.

“The team is young,” Alanis said. “We have four seniors, everybody else is underclass. It has been tough, but as the season has gone on we have gotten better. We’ve had a few liberos and the libero (Marina Cortez) has been working so hard. She’s done so well, I want to give credit to her. She’s a sophomore and been doing so great. Our defense too, all our defense are underclass.”

Long-time Rowe bench boss Canales knew after most of the supporting cast graduated last year that it would be a tough road for Alanis, Galindo and company to bring the youngsters up to speed.

“It’s been an amazing experience with these girls, watching them develop from the very beginning,” Canales said. “I knew it was going to be a journey. I knew it was going to be a challenge, but with the seniors that I have leading the youth I knew we were going to be able to come through.”

Alanis’ intensity is hard to miss on the court, from the emphatic celebrations following her monstrous kills to visible frustration when the Warriors struggle.

The Warriors had another strong season by most metrics. Rowe went 32-11 overall and 11-3 in District 30-6A play. The green and gold won once against McAllen High the first time through district play, but then dropped the rest of the intra-city matches against the Bulldogs and Memorial Mustangs, including Saturday’s seeding game against McHi.

At times, some of the anger boils over and Alanis admits that those moments could cost the unit. As her senior season progressed she says those issues are hashed out face-to-face, as a team.

“After every game when we realized that the reason we lost was because we were fighting, we always sit down the next day and we talk to each other and we sort out problems,” Alanis said. “We come back to practice and we fix all the stuff. We both see what was said and we fix both things.”

Senior setter Jewel Palomo has had a front-row view to the team’s ups and downs. She returned to the team this season and had to adjust quickly as the primary setter for the team.

Palomo’s leadership role was complex. She had to learn the ropes herself, but also guide some of the younger, less experienced Warriors.

“Me coming in since I didn’t play the previous years I just need to talk to them, encourage (the underclassmen),” Palomo said. “Don’t go harsh on them, but encourage them to be better because we do see potential in them. What we have all learned is each player contributes to our team. What I’ve learned is you need each player, it’s not about one player, it’s about everybody.”

One player that has taken a big leap from a year ago is sophomore Anna Honrubia. She was on JV as a freshman but spent time practicing with the top group and traveled during the playoff run. Now she’s an important option on the attack.

“I was really close with a lot of the varsity players before I went on varsity so it was easy for me; they helped me a lot,” Honrubia said. She also has the advantage of playing and practicing alongside one of the area’s best players. “She’s (Alanis) been a mentor to me even before this season started. She wants me to get better; she tells me how to fix myself. I do look up to her as a player because she’s amazing.”

The Warriors mix of experience and youth will take center stage 6 p.m. Tuesday when Rowe welcome in District 29-6A’s second seed, Laredo United. Both teams have taken turns ending each others seasons for the past three years with the Warriors knocking out the Longhorns in 2017 on their way to the regional semifinal.

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NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN – McAllen High and McAllen Rowe met on the volleyball court once again, this time to decide second and third seeds in the 30-6A playoffs.

The district standings won’t change but the Bulldogs proved they are playing some of their best volleyball in the 26-24, 25-22, 25-21 sweep of the Warriors at McAllen High School on Saturday afternoon.

The teams could have flipped a coin to break the deadlock, but McHi coach Paula Dodge didn’t want to leave her team’s fate to chance. With many playoff-bound teams in action Saturday playing tune-up matches, the showdown doubled as an opportunity to prepare.

“Normally, I would probably flip for something like this but we definitely wanted to get that second seed for the matchup,” Dodge said.

Both teams finished district with identical 11-3 records, with two losses to McAllen Memorial and split their season series.

“This game honestly boosted our confidence for the postseason,” Senior Gabi Gomez said after the win. “The win over Rowe is the best feeling you get, especially for the rivalry in McAllen. You just do it for the fans who want to see us succeed and want to see us grow as a team.”

McHi will face district 29-6A No. 3-seed Laredo LBJ 6 p.m. Tuesday at Roma Middle School.

“We wanted that win so we don’t have to play the second-place team,” Bulldogs leading hitter Lexi Gonzalez said. “We worked really hard in this game and just gave it our all.”
Gonzalez notched 22 kills to lead the Bulldogs, including the match-winner which hit the floor after the Rowe block couldn’t keep the rally alive.

The Warriors held a lead in the first set but McHi came back from 21-19 and 22-20. The home team needed extra points but prevailed 26-24.

The second set was close again but Rowe’s Jackie Alanis was slowed a few too many times by the active block and defense from McHi. She still had 27 kills in the loss.

“We’ve been working really hard on defense,” Gonzalez said. “Every practice we practice and practice and so that’s what makes us better at passing against the hardest hitters in the Valley.”

Madison Helmcamp had 13 digs and led the team with 23 assists. Damaris Llanas added another 11 digs and Gonzalez had six digs. Between the initial passes from hard shots and the block, the Bulldogs played impressive team defense.

“It’s important to play defense so that way we can slow down the hitters and get the ball up and have our hitters kill the ball so we can earn some points,” Libero Audrey Zamora said.

Rowe won the first meeting between the two teams but McHi swept the next two matchups.

Gonzalez said the team’s growth has been fun to watch. The addition of freshman Celina Saenz, who had seven kills, has done a lot to balance the team with a capable hitter and defender.

“At the beginning (of the season) we were a little shaky but then our chemistry just grew by the season and now we’re playing amazing for each other,” Gonzalez said. “I’m so happy they called (Saenz) up to varsity around halfway through (the season). She’s been really good.”

Rowe will host Laredo United at 7 p.m on Tuesday. The United Longhorns spent time in first place but were edged out by Laredo Alexander for the district championship in the last game of the regular season.

[email protected]

NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — Physicality bruises but speed kills.

PSJA North took its first lead a minute and three seconds before halftime never looked back, steamrolling La Joya High 40-14 in the Monitor’s Game of the Week.

La Joya (6-2, 3-2) scored twice on methodical, hard-nosed rushing drives but PSJA North (5-3, 4-1) used big plays all night to take sole possession of second-place in District 30-6A.

North quarterback Iziaah Rangel had a breakout night to power past the visiting Coyotes. Rangel was the perfect definition of dual-threat as she showed off his arm but stole the show with his legs via two long touchdown runs from 75 and 89 yards, respectively.

“It took hard work, dedication,” Rangel said. “Each day we have to run sprints. Those extra sprints really counted.”

Rangel was untouched until the secondary on both plays. He hit similar spin moves on both long runs to bounce off would-be Coyotes defenders and find open field.

“(The offensive line) made it really easy by knowing their assignments and getting to where they need to be and just letting me do my thing,” Rangel said.

Rangel finished with 204 yards rushing.

The final score was hard to predict early. La Joya quarterback J.R. Rodriguez scored on the Coyotes first drive and burly running back Eddie Villarreal punched it in on the second drive.

Each time La Joya scored however, the Raiders answered right back. The first North touchdown came on a fake punt where Rangel found a wide open Arturo Beltran on the sideline.

The speedy wide receiver/running back made the only defender miss to score and foreshadow the type of night it would be for North’s offense.

Beltran scored again on a short run to bring his season total to 20 touchdowns. His second score gave the Raiders their first lead at 21-14 but the team never looked back on either side of the ball.

Coach Marcus Kaufman said as the game went on, his team corrected any little mistake to fine-tune the unit. He attributed the success to adjustments.

“Those types of things were happening because of all the coaches over here working their butts off trying to make sure these kids understand the schemes,” Kaufmann said. “We’re finally getting into a little bit of a flow over here where the kids understand exactly what we expect of them off the field, on the field, in the weight room.”

The second half was near perfect for North, which scored three times to put the game out of reach. First, Rangel hit Rolando Coronado from 8 yards for a passing score, then Rangel’s second big rush of the night went for nearly 90 yards.

The scoring was capped by freshman Isaac Gonzalez who broke free for a 41-yard score.

Rangel said his playmakers Beltran and Gonzalez can count on him for a breather.

“It was special also to give them a break too,” Rangel said. “They’ve been working hard for me and I wanted to show them I could run too.”

The Raiders defense was strong following the Coyotes second touchdown.

“We’ve been working hard the whole season and it felt good to shut down the best offense we’ve probably faced besides Bears,” junior defensive end Aaron Alvarez said.

The defensive line made an adjustment to keep La Joya’s Villarreal in check. Villarreal finished with 130 yards, most of came in the first two quarters.

Alvarez sacked Rodriguez to seal the win.

PSJA North will put its much-improved team to the test next week when it faces McAllen Memorial on the road.

La Joya will try to bounce back against McAllen Rowe, which fell against Mission High on Friday.

[email protected]

VALLEY HS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE

Monday, Oct. 29

Class 6A Bi-District

Edinburg North at Brownsville Rivera, 6:30 p.m.

Class 4A Bi-District

Zapata vs. Rockport-Fulton at Kingsville King, 6 p.m.

Rio Hondo vs. Sinton at Kingsville King, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 30

Class 6A Bi-District

McAllen High vs. Laredo LBJ at Roma Middle School, 6 p.m.

McAllen Memorial vs. Laredo United South at Roma, 6:30 p.m.

Brownsville Hanna at Edinburg Vela, 6:30 p.m.

Edinburg High at Harlingen South, 6:30 p.m.

PSJA North vs. Laredo Alexander at Corpus Christi Ray, 7 p.m.

Los Fresnos at Weslaco High, 7 p.m.

Laredo United at McAllen Rowe, 7 p.m.

Class 5A Bi-District

Brownsville Lopez at Mission Veterans, 7 p.m.

PSJA Memorial at Edcouch-Elsa, 7 p.m.

Sharyland High vs. Donna High at PSJA Southwest, 7 p.m.

Sharyland Pioneer vs. Brownsville Vets at Weslaco East, 7 p.m.

Class 4A Bi-District

La Feria vs. Ingleside at Kingsville King, 6 p.m.

Hidalgo vs. Orange Grove at Kingsville King, 8 p.m.

Class 3A Bi-District

Santa Rosa vs. Falfurrias at McAllen High, 7 p.m.

TAPPS Class 5A Area
Brownsville St. Joseph vs. Houston Cypress Christian at Odem, 6 p.m.

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS

DISTRICT 30-6A

Over Dist

Team W L W L

McAllen Memorial 36 3 14 0

McAllen Rowe* 32 11 11 3

McAllen High* 38 5 11 3

PSJA North 23 14 8 6

Mission High – – 5 9

PSJA High 13 24 4 10

La Joya High 2 19 1 13

L.J. Juarez-Lincoln 10 22 1 13

*tied for second place, will play Saturday, 2 p.m. at McHi for 2nd/3rd seed.

DISTRICT 31-6A

Over Dist

Team W L W L

Edinburg High** 20 15 9 3

Edinburg North** 26 16 9 3

Edinburg Vela** 24 14 9 3

Weslaco High 22 17 8 4

Weslaco East 23 16 5 7

Ed. Economedes 12 26 2 12

Donna North – – 0 14

*Tri district champions. EHS is seeded first, Edinburg North second and Edinburg Vela third

DISTRICT 32-6A

Over Dist

Team W L W L

Los Fresnos – – 9 1

Brownsville Hanna – – 8 2

Brownsville Rivera – – 4 6

Harlingen South – – 4 6

San Benito – – 3 7

Harlingen High – – 2 8

DISTRICT 31-5A

Over Dist

Team W L W L

Mission Veterans 37 3 14 0

Sharyland High 24 16 10 4

Sharyland Pioneer 23 17 10 4

PSJA Memorial 21 18 9 5

PSJA Southwest 22 15 7 7

Roma 12 19 4 10

Rio Grande City – – 1 13

La Joya Palmview 7 27 1 13

DISTRICT 32-5A

Over Dist

Team W L W L

Edcouch-Elsa 29 10 13 1

Brownsville Veterans 30 13 12 2

Donna High 26 11 11 3

Brownsville Lopez – – 7 7

Mercedes 14 18 5 9

Brownsville Porter – – 4 10

Brownsville Pace – – 4 10

Valley View 6 28 0 14

DISTRICT 32-4A

Over Dist

Team W L W L

La Feria – – 13 1

Hidalgo – – 11 3

Zapata – – 10 4

Rio Hondo – – 7 7

Grulla – – 6 8

Progreso – – 5 9

Port Isabel – – 2 12

Raymondville – – 2 12

Valley HS Volleyball Schedule 2018

Monday’s results:

District 32-4A

La Feria def. Rio Hondo 3-1

Progreso def. Port Isabel 3-2

Hidalgo def. Grulla 3-0

Zapata def. Raymondville 3-0

Tuesday, Oct. 23

District 30-6A

McAllen High def. PSJA North 25-17, 25-11, 25-17

Mission High def. La Joya High 25-19, 25-20, 28-26

PSJA High def. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 25-18, 25-7, 24-26, 25-13

McAllen Memorial def. McAllen Rowe 25-20, 25-23, 25-17

District 31-6A

Edinburg North def. Weslaco High 25-15, 25-12, 25-9

Edinburg High def. Donna North 25-15, 25-13, 25-14

Edinburg Vela def. Weslaco East 25-17, 25-6, 25-20

District 31-5A

Sharyland Pioneer def. Rio Grande City 25-10, 25-10, 25-8

Mission Veterans def. Roma 25-7, 25-4, 25-14

PSJA Memorial def. Sharyland High 25-12, 28-30, 18-25, 25-18, 15-11

PSJA Southwest 25-22, 25-11, 23-25, 25-9

District 32-6A

Los Fresnos def. San Benito 25-22, 25-11, 25-21

Harlingen South def. Brownsville Hanna 25-18, 25-21, 19-25, 10-25, 15-12

Brownsville Rivera def. Brownsville Rivear 22-25, 19-25, 25-19, 25-17,

District 32-5A

Brownsville Veterans def. Edcouch-Elsa 25-22, 25-20, 25-14

Brownsville Lopez def. Mercedes

Donna High def. Valley View 25-9, 25-15, 25-10

Brownsville Pace def. Brownsville Porter 25-19, 25-13, 23-25, 25-23

VALLEY HS VOLLEYBALL BOX SCORES

Tuesday’s Game

District 30-6A

McALLEN HIGH DEF. PSJA NORTH

25-16, 25-14, 25-15

McALLEN HIGH: Lexi Gonzalez 10 kills, 5 digs, 1 ace, 1 block; Damaris Llanas 12 kills, 3 assists; Madison Helmpcamp 3 kills, 4 digs, 3 aces, 23 assists; Audrey Zamora 10 digs, 5 assists; Celina Saenz 7 kills, 2 aces, 1 assist, 1 block.

LOSING TEAM: Not reported.

RECORDS: McAllen High 38-5, 11-3; PSJA North 23-15, 8-6.

McALLEN MEMORIAL DEF. McALLEN ROWE

25-20, 25-23, 25-17

McALLEN MEMORIAL: Jocelynn Everage 18 kills; Valeria Trevino 12 kills, 14 digs, 3 blocks; Demy Banks 8 kills; Dylann Guerra 20 digs; Sydney Marburger 43 assists

McALLEN ROWE: Anna Honrubia 2 kills, 8 digs, 1 assist; Jewel Paloma 18 assists 4 digs; Jackelyn Alanis 21 kills, 9 digs, 2 blcoks, 1 assists; Samantha Sifuentes 13 assists, 4 digs; Marina Cortez 23 digs; Victoria Enriquez 4 kills, 2 blocks; Sofia Higareda 3 kills, 2 digs, 1 assist; Victoria Galindo 2 kills, 2 blocks; Lauren Moubray 4 kills, 1 dig, 1 block

RECORDS: McAllen Memorial 36-3, 14-0; McAllen Rowe 32-11, 11-3;

District 31-6A

EDINBURG HIGH DEF. DONNA NORTH

25-15, 25-13, 25-14

EDINBURG: Renee Ponce 13 kills, 3 aces, 12 digs, 19 assists; Bailey Buckner 2 kills, 12 digs, 2 assists; Vianney Trevino 2 aces, 3 digs, 1 assist; Bryahne Salinas 2 kills, 1 dig; Zarina Rodriguez 5 kills, 4 blocks; Celeste Del Villar 1 block; Victoria Fuentes 12 kills, 5 blocks, 3 aces, 2 digs, 1 assist; Kristen Salinas 2 aces, 17 digs; Julissah Santa Maria 2 assists; Hannah Vega 1 kill, 1 block, 1 ace, 8 digs, 3 assists.

DONNA NORTH: Not reported.

RECORDS: Edinburg 20-15, 9-3; Donna North 0-12.

EDINBURG NORTH DEF.WESLACO HIGH

25-15, 25-12, 25-9

EDINBURG NORTH: Natalie Rodriguez 25 kills, 15 digs; Drina Garza 10 kills, 5 digs; Evana Ramos 35 digs, 4 aces, 3 assists; Jessica Dreyer 10 assists, 10 digs, 2 aces; Kelsey Limas 16 assists, 6 digs

RECORDS: Edinburg North 26-15, 9-3; Weslaco High 8-4

District 31-5A

SHARYLAND PIONEER DEF. RIO GRANDE CITY

25-10, 25-10, 25-8

SHARYLAND PIONEER: Daizy Coronado 5 kills, 6 blocks; Daniela Alvarez 9 kills; Natalie Reyes 31 assists, 11 digs; Shelby Cavazos 7 aces, 8 digs.

RIO GRANDE CITY: Not reported.

RECORDS: Sharyland Pioneer 23-17, 9-5; Rio Grande City 1-13

District 31-5A

MISSION VETERANS DEF. ROMA

25-7, 25-4, 25-15

MISSION VETERANS: Jackie Howell 13 kills, 10 digs, 1 assist; Makenize Gerlach 14 kills, 8 digs; Kassy Lerma 11 kills, 6 aces, 6 digs; Valerie de la Fuente 29 assists, 3 kills; 5 digs; Ronnie Cantu 15 assists, 3 digs; 2 aces; Bella Dominguez 13 digs, 2 aces, 1 assists

RECORDS: Mission Veterans 37-3, 14-0

District 32-5A

BROWNSVILLE VETERANS DEF. EDCOUCH-ELSA

25-22, 25-20, 25-14

EDCOUCH-ELSA: Arissa Cavazos 19 digs; Sarah Flores 19 digs, 4 kills, 3 assists, 2 blocks; Paloma Ybarra 14 kills, 11 digs, 7 assists; Neida Ybarra 4 blocks, 2 kills, 2 digs, 1 assist

RECORDS: Edcouch-Elsa 29-10, 13-1; Brownsville Veterans

NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER

McAllen Memorial is an unusual spot. The Mustangs are 2-2 in district and fighting for their playoff lives. Their final three games, against La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, PSJA North and McAllen Rowe, will decide if Bill Littleton’s team can reach the playoffs for the ninth straight season.

Memorial won the last four district championships but the Mustangs coach of 17 years is no stranger to a battle to keep the season going past the regular season.

“I think it’s a test of your character, a test of your manhood,” Littleton said. “When you have a little adversity and when things don’t go the way you want to, I think you see what your team is made out of. So far, our kids have come out and fought hard, played hard. We’ve pretty much been in every district ball game. We feel like we let a couple slip away from us that we should have won.”

Following a dramatic win over Mission High, Memorial lost back-to-back games against La Joya High then PSJA High. Both games were one-possession losses and the game against the Bears was the first time the offense had to operate without injured senior quarterback Sean Skaugen.

“We’re going to take things one game at a time,” Littleton said. “We can’t look ahead, we can’t look behind. Just have to go out every week and try to get a win.”

Junior Joseph Lara has taken over quarterback duties for Skaugen.

Lara is taking over the role in the same situation Skaugen did a year prior when then-senior Angel Almaguer went down with an injury.

It’s still the Campbell Speights show on offense for Memorial. The junior running back is up to 1,017 yards on the season with 16 rushing touchdowns.

He is the district leader in points scored thanks to his one reception for a score, one kick-return touchdown plus four converted two-point conversions.

Even with gaudy numbers, Littleton said Speights focus is the collective unit.

“First and foremost he’s a tremendous athlete, he has a great heart,” Littleton said. “He’s very coachable, he has a great attitude day in, day out. When games are over he’s not worried about what happened if we win, he’s happy. If we lose, he’s ready to come back next week and get back to winning ways. That’s what a true all-around player does. He doesn’t worry about his stats. He doesn’t worry about anything else; he’s always worried about the team.”

The Mustangs continue with their district slate on the road against winless La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (0-7, 0-4). This will be the last time Memorial plays outside of McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium. In Week 10 they face the Raiders at home before ending the season with another cross-town rivalry against McAllen Rowe.

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