By Roy Hess | The Brownsville Herald

Bus accidents are something no one wants to see happen.

Yet, they still do.

The good news from Tuesday’s accident in Pharr involving a bus carrying 20-plus members of the Rivera volleyball team is there apparently were no serious injuries beyond bumps and bruises. Players and coaches were taken to two hospitals in McAllen to be checked out.

Parents and school officials traveled to McAllen as soon as possible to make sure everything was OK.

There are bound to be the normal emotional effects people experience when suddenly cast into a multi-vehicle accident situation.

That’s why the Rivera coaching staff gave the players a day off today. The team will come together again Thursday and decide for sure if the Lady Raiders will participate in the Mission Tournament starting Friday.

It appears Rivera will be playing in the two-day tournament, but it won’t be determined for certain until Thursday’s practice.

Tuesday’s Rivera at McAllen High non-district match was canceled.

The UIL season is a little more than two weeks old since the first day of practice on Aug. 1, so there is still plenty of volleyball to be played with District 32-6A, starting Sept. 18 for the defending champion Lady Raiders.

For now, it’s about getting back into the normal routine of practicing and playing matches for the Rivera girls.

Rivera coach Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra is beginning her 26th season of guiding the Lady Raiders. Richard Guerra, her husband, is also her assistant coach.

“We are OK for now and we will play it by ear,” Guerra said. “We’ve never had anything like this happen before.

“As of right now, we should be there (playing at the Mission Tournament),” Guerra added. “We gave the girls the day off (today). We will see them Thursday and evaluate how we
are feeling.”

PORT ISABEL TOURNAMENT

The eighth-annual Volley at the Beach Tournament begins Thursday and runs through Saturday at Port Isabel.

Along with the host Lady Tarpons, there are 12 other teams participating with pool play scheduled Thursday and Friday followed by bracket play in Gold and Silver Divisions on Saturday. Port Isabel’s main and practice gyms will be used.

Pool play begins at 1 p.m. Thursday and at 9 a.m. on Friday.

The Gold Division championship match is scheduled at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Hanna is the defending champion. The Lady Golden Eagles defeated PSJA Southwest 21-25, 25-16, 15-10 in last year’s final.

Hanna and PSJA Southwest are both back. Rounding out the tournament field are Corpus Christi Carroll, Los Fresnos, Lopez, Weslaco East, St. Joseph Academy, Progreso, Santa Rosa, Rio Hondo, La Feria and Monte Alto.

“We’re always excited about going to the Port Isabel Tournament,” Hanna coach Ansgar Hagemann said. “We look forward to playing teams such as Los Fresnos, Corpus Christi Carroll and the others. It’s good competition.”

Hanna is coming off Tuesday’s 25-16, 25-19, 20-25, 25-17 non-district win at home against Pace.

ONLY TWO SENIORS

St. Joseph Academy coach Dolores Olguin-Trevino said she has two more players who should be listed with the others on her varsity team for 2018. They are seniors Juliet Reyes and Arely Fonrouge.

“They’re the only seniors in the program this season,” Olguin-Trevino said.

The Lady Bloodhounds are coming off Tuesday’s 25-9, 25-19, 25-17 non-district road victory against San Isidro.

By ROY HESS |The Brownsville Herald

Hanna and Pace got together for a non-district volleyball match Tuesday afternoon at Hanna with the Lady Golden Eagles prevailing 25-16, 25-19, 20-25, 25-17.

“We basically always enjoy playing the other Brownsville schools, even when it’s not in district,” Hanna coach Ansgar Hagemann said. “It’s always fun.”

Hanna plays in District 32-6A, which doesn’t start until Sept.18. Pace plays in District 32-5A, which is set to begin Sept. 8.

Until then, there will be plenty of non-district matches and tournaments.

Hanna got off to a strong start Tuesday at home and won the opening game decisively 25-16. The Lady Eagles took control of the match by capturing the second game 25-19.

Leading the way as hitters for the Lady Eagles were Ariana Arcenaux and Odalys Gonzales.
“We’re still working on different lineups and formations,” Hagemann said. “We did well the first two games and then Pace did well in the third game (and won 25-20). We got back to playing better in the fourth game (and won 25-17).

“We had some highlights, some good moments,” Hagemann added. “We were trying various lineups.”

First-year Pace coach Pamela McCumber said Hanna was a solid opponent for her team.

“It was a good preseason match,” she said. “It helps us see what we need to work on.”

McCumber said middle blockers Rosa Salinas and Stephanie Saenz each had five kills for the Lady Vikings. Teammate Alexys Arce, a libero, led the Lady Vikings with 13 digs.

“Our blocking and coverage improved,” McCumber said. “We played the net better.”

Pre-district play continues for both teams later this week.

Hanna next plays in the eighth annual Volley at the Beach Tournament starting Thursday in Port Isabel. The Lady Eagles are defending champions of the tournament.

Pace next plays in the Mission Tournament, which starts Friday.

By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

It always helps to have team chemistry and a solid group of seniors.

The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons are blessed to have an abundance of both.

As the 2018 UIL volleyball season gets underway, the Lady Falcons are one of the Lower Rio Grande Valley squads already experiencing some early success.

Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods, now in her 34th year of guiding the Lady Falcons, believes the high level of team chemistry her squad is displaying is thanks to her group of 11 seniors who have been playing together for quite some time.

“ I have a big senior group,” Woods said. “They’re a very close-knit team. They’ve played together for many years and that’s what makes them so good. They know the positions to play and not to run into each other. They know how not to interfere with each other’s ball.

“ I’m very satisfied with where these girls are at right now,” Woods added.

Los Fresnos’ 11 seniors include Alex Garcia, Hannah Castillo, Gaby Cuevas, Jovanna Adame, Sarah Villarreal, Emma Stambaugh, Kaitlyn Mata, Elizabeth Vasquez, Sandra Salazar, Victoria Garcia Lebron and Isis Delgado, who was the District 32-6A libero of the year in 2017. Also a season ago, Villarreal was an all-district first-team selection while Stambaugh and Salazar made the second team.

The Lady Falcons don’t have quite the height they’ve enjoyed in past years.

“ Height-wise, I think it’s more heart over height (for us),” said Salazar, an outside hitter. “We just play our hardest no matter who is on the other side (of the net as our opponent).”

Added Mata, also an outside hitter, “I’ve been playing with most of these girls since I was in second grade. And with the ones who are new, we have a great group and we just bond together.

“ There’s no thought of someone being a senior and someone else being a sophomore,” Mata said. “We’re all friends on and off the court, and we’re just one team. It doesn’t matter how old you are.

“ I expect us to go very far (in the playoffs), farther than we’ve gone before.”

Here is a brief team-by-team look at the other Brownsville area squads:

RIVERA LADY RAIDERS

The Lady Raiders will be defending their District 32-6A championship of a season ago in a six-team conference (no more Weslaco schools) as coach Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra begins her 26th season at the helm. She reached 500 wins for her coaching career (all spent at Rivera) last season.

Experienced players back for the Lady Raiders include Kourtney Shears, Madelaine Blanco, Claudia de la Garza, Martha Ramirez and Kaylyn Samano. Shears, now a hitter, was the 32-6A setter of the year last season and Blanco was the 32-6A defensive player of the year.

Newcomers who could make an impact include outside hitter Christina Garza and middle blocker Kenya Ibarra.

“ We have a young group with a lot to learn, but it’s also a group with a lot of potential,” Avelar-Guerra said. “I’m excited for the season. It’s a matter of how hard the girls want to work for it. District is going to be tough.”

HANNA LADY GOLDEN EAGLES

The Lady Eagles are looking for a fifth straight trip to the playoffs out of 32-6A this season.

Hanna has eight players returning with experience on the varsity. They include Odalys Gonzales, Ariana Arcenaux, Natalie Davila, Tabitha Fernandez, Angelina Castillo, Rebecca Slaughter, Vivian Izaguierre and Natalie Arnold.

Gonzales, a middle blocker, was named newcomer of the year in 32-6A last season.

“ These girls are very coachable and they’re also very athletic,” Hanna coach Ansgar Hagemann said. “The district race in 32-6A is going to be very unpredictable.”

LOPEZ LADY LOBOS

Last season, the Lady Lobos prevailed out of a three-way tie with Pace and Mercedes to make the playoffs as the fourth-place seed from District 32-5A. They’ll be trying for a higher finish in district this time around to avoid any “play-in” drama at the end of the regular season.

The Lady Lobos have three seniors who are expected to lead the way this year. They are setter Noemi Gallardo, right side hitter Amanda Parra and left side hitter Jennifer Cisneros.

Gallardo was a unanimous choice on the 32-5A All-District first team a season ago, while Parra was a 32-5A second-team selection.

Lopez coach Jacquelynn Touchet likes what she sees with her current squad.

“ They are a strong, positive group and have been in our program for three years now,” Touchet said. “They are dependable leaders and teammates and have grown as athletes in skill and character over the years. I’m excited to see the personal achievements these seniors have this season along with the success the team achieves.”

PACE LADY VIKINGS

The Lady Vikings welcome a familiar face as their head coach in Pamela McCumber. She is the daughter of former Pace volleyball coach Paula Gonzalez (now McAllen ISD athletic director) and is a former volleyball player and assistant coach at the school.

Top players for the Lady Vikings this season include middle blocker Stephanie Saenz, setter Atianna Jones, libero Alexys Arce, defensive specialist Abbigail Rodriguez and outside hitter Kimberly Villarreal.

Saenz was a 32-5A All-District first-team selection last season.

“ This group is very receptive to new ideas and I love their dedication to the sport of volleyball,” McCumber said.

PORTER COWGIRLS

Tiffany Capistran is the new volleyball coach at Porter this season.

Two of the top players for the Cowgirls this year include setter Brigitte Ortiz and all-around player Ana Meza.

The Cowgirls showed plenty of fight in a number of their 32-5A matches last season and will hope to continue that trend in 2018 with the goal of making the playoffs.

“ This season, the team brings much competition on the court against our opponents and a focus on not giving up,” Capistran said. “They are working together as a team and have been making statements since Day 1 in scrimmages.

“ I look forward to the season this year as the girls have started strong in the first few days of play,” Capistran added.

BROWNSVILLE VETERANS MEMORIAL LADY CHARGERS

Almost everyone from the last two 32-5A championship teams for the Lady Chargers is gone, so it’s a rebuilding season this year. Brownsville Veterans went 28-0 over the past two seasons to win back-to-back district crowns.

Three players back with varsity experience for the Lady Chargers are utility player Frida Rangel, defensive specialist/right side hitter Pamela Sanchez and defensive specialist Sara Gomez.

Other players who could make an impact for the Lady Chargers are Mariana Tostado, Alexandra Parchmont, Aylinn De La Cruz, Daniela Espinoza, Hannah Edelstein, Valeria Sumaya, Arely Guzman and Dominique Mena.

The Lady Chargers are drawing upon players who won district titles at the freshman and junior varsity levels a season ago.

“ We will not have a couple of (individual) standouts this year (like before),” Lady Chargers coach Lisa Mares said. “It will be an overall team effort (for us to do well).

“ We’re under construction right now,” Mares added. “We hope to be a masterpiece at the end (of the season).”

PORT ISABEL LADY TARPONS

Getting back to the playoffs from an eight-team District 32-4A and advancing a good ways into the postseason sums up the goals for the Lady Tarpons this season under coach Julie Breedlove.

Port Isabel placed third in 32-4A last year and didn’t go beyond the bi-district round in the playoffs.

“ I’m expecting a good district run for these girls,” Breedlove said. “We are going to have a good balance with our veterans and newcomers.”

Veteran players for the Lady Tarpons in 2018 include middle blocker Rebecca Ramos, libero Estrella Vasquez, setter Marlissa Martinez, defensive specialist Gabriela Torres, and outside hitters McKenzie Young and Allison Gonzalez.

Younger players for the team are middle blocker Madison Ramos and setter Karina Martinez.

ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY LADY BLOODHOUNDS

Since its inception, the SJA volleyball program has been steadily growing in recent years under coach Dolores Olguin-Trevino. This season the Lady Bloodhounds will be participating in TAPPS district competition for the first time.

“ I hope to be competitive in our TAPPS district this year,” Olguin-Trevino said. “It’ll be a whole new experience for us in volleyball, and we’re excited and looking forward to it. Hopefully, playing three very competitive (Class) 6A schools and the tournaments we attend will help prepare us for district. Hopefully, we can get into the postseason.

“ This team is exciting to watch and coach,” she added. “I think with their work ethic, they will continue to improve and surprise people with their competitiveness. The girls have come a long way in four years.”

Four experienced players back are middle blocker Ally Stachowiak, outside hitter Victoria Gonzalez, setter/hitter Halima Dervisevic and setter Rebekah Rodriguez.

Newcomers to the team include Mildred Verlage, Natalia Montemayor and Elise Esparza along with varsity candidates Ale Vasquez and Ale Ortiz.

IDEA FRONTIER LADY CHARGERS

Jerry De La Garza has coached several sports at IDEA Frontier and now he is guiding the volleyball team. He coached the boys basketball team to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs last spring.

Two girls back with experience for the Lady Chargers are libero Kayla Sanchez and setter Stephanie Leal. A newcomer to the team is middle blocker Alma Medellin.

IDEA Frontier will be competing in District 32-3A, a nine-team conference.

JUBILEE BROWNSVILLE LADY TITANS

The Lady Titans compete in the Texas Charter School Academic & Athletic League. The team went 29-2 last season and advanced to the TCSAAL state semifinals.

The Lady Titans are coached by Lester Shears.

Among the top players this season are Valentina Tijerina, Fernanda Bannock and Elise Forte. In all, there are nine returning lettermen from last season’s 29-2 state semifinalist squad.

Tijerina is moving from setter to left side hitter and Bannock is moving from middle blocker to setter. Forte is expected to be an impact player for the team.

By Roy Hess | The Brownsville Herald

Practicing with confidence and setting high goals is all part of the normal routine for the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers.

They believe it prepares them to win championships in football.

That approach seems to be working quite well as the Chargers have captured District 32-5A titles during each of the past two seasons. Now, they’re aiming for a District 16-5A Division I crown this season.

“I think the players on this team have a confidence in themselves and they believe in their abilities,” said Chargers coach David Cantu, who is entering his seventh year at the helm. “They’re great competitors, so that’s always going to give us a chance to compete. That’s all we ask.”

The Chargers opened workouts on Monday with 125 players participating in drills.

There are six returnees on offense (three linemen and three receivers) plus two starters back on defense. Overall, 18 lettermen are returning.

Brownsville Veterans is coming off last year’s 10-2 season that included a 7-0 mark in 32-5A competition. The season before, in 2016, the Chargers went 8-3 (6-1 in district) and shared the 32-5A title with Mercedes.

Now comes the challenge of competing in 16-5A Division I, a 10-team district.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work and dedication on this team,” said Alex Villarreal, a 6-foot-1, 250-pound junior tackle who is one of two returning starters on defense. “We had a good showing (for volunteer workouts) throughout the summer. Only a few people missed a couple of days, so very few days were missed.”

Added teammate Jose “JoJo” Solis, a 5-9, 235-pound senior offensive guard and returning starter, “It’s a pretty good feeling to be back on the football field. We trained during the offseason in the spring and had workouts during the summer, and now we’ve got the feeling of getting our helmets back on and being out here. The memories (of last season’s success) are coming back. Hopefully, we keep working hard and do well this season, too. We’re getting good things done.”

Workouts continue through Aug. 17 when the Chargers scrimmage at 7 p.m. at Hanna. Brownsville Veterans’ second scrimmage is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at Weslaco High.

The regular season opener for the Chargers will be against non-district opponent Rivera at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at Sams Memorial Stadium. District 16-5A Division I competition begins on Sept. 7 at Sams against the Lopez Lobos.

Among the key departures due to graduation for the Chargers are quarterback Gustavo Vasquez and running back Abel Martinez.

The Brownsville Veterans players are eager for the games to start.

“It feels good to get back playing football and being out here catching balls with my team,” said Carlos Galindo, a 5-10, 150-pound senior inside receiver who is a returning starter. “I think the most important trait for the receivers on this team is to block well so we can have our ball carriers break loose (for a big rushing gain).

“I have the same confidence in this team that I’ve had for our other teams,” he added. “I believe our passing game will be even better this year and the running game will be the same (and be pretty potent). Every year, our goal is to win district.”

Added Tony Medrano, a 5-11, 175-pound senior free safety and a returning starter on defense with Villarreal, “We’re all here humbled, ready and focused for the season. We’ve been waiting for this a long time.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By Roy Hess | The Brownsville Herald

The numbers are up for Pace football and so are the expectations.

The Vikings opened workouts on Monday with 116 players participating in drills on Pace’s newly completed on-campus artificial turf field that was officially dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.

Including the new field, there are quite a few positives that are motivating the players to do well this season.

“We feel we have a pretty good team and we want to go (at least) two rounds deep in the playoffs this year,” said Hector Salazar, a 5-foot-10, 156-pound senior safety who has started three seasons for the Vikings. “We’re looking forward to the season.”

The Vikings made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2011 under first-year coach Danny Pardo.

A 59-43 loss to Sharyland High in the Class 5A bi-district playoffs last Nov. 17 ended the Vikings’ 2017 season at 5-6 and left them wanting to do more than make just a quick appearance in the postseason in 2018.

With Pardo back for his second year at the helm and a number of starters returning (eight offensive and seven defensive), there is plenty of optimism evident among the Vikings.

“It’s great to have the football season back again,” said Julio Hernandez, a 5-11, 280-pound senior guard who is beginning his third season as a starter in an offensive line that from tackle to tackle is one of the most massive in the area and considered the biggest in school history. “We’re getting to play with our brothers one more year, and it’s our last year (as seniors). We have to come together again (like last year) and work harder as a family.”

Overall, the Vikings return 25 lettermen from a season ago.

“Our senior class from last year put us back in the playoff picture and our goal now is to move on by at least going to the second round,” said Pardo, who as a player was a district MVP-caliber standout in the defensive line for the Porter Cowboys in the 1980s. “Seeing if we can move on to the second round is kind of what we’re focusing on, but first, we know we can’t be overconfident. We have to work hard and make sure we make it to the playoffs first. “We’re trying to instill an attitude in these players that it’s no longer just about getting in (the playoffs), it’s more of a challenge to see if we can do even better. It’s a challenge that we’re putting on these guys and they’re accepting it. Is it possible? Yes. I think we have the team to do it. We’re going to see what happens.”

The Vikings will get their first strong indication of how things are progressing on Aug. 17 when they scrimmage Port Isabel. A second scrimmage against Edinburg Economedes is set for Aug. 24. The sites and times for both scrimmages are pending.

Pace plays its regular season opener at Sharyland High on Aug. 31. The Vikings open District 16-5A Division I action against Porter at Sams Memorial Stadium on Sept. 6.

The Vikings hope their all-out efforts pay dividends.

“We’re just out here working hard, busting our butts and trying to improve every day,” said Jose Quintero, a 6-2, 270-pound senior offensive tackle who is playing his second year as a starter. “The seniors of last year set the standards for us and now we’re just trying to reach a higher level and be the best that we can be.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

LOS FRESNOS — A fire alarm signaled the beginning of the 2018 volleyball regular season Tuesday at Los Fresnos High School.

Before the Lady Falcons and Sharyland High Lady Rattlers could play their non-district varsity match in the gym at noon, an alarm sounded, lights flashed and everyone was quickly escorted outside to the sun-baked parking lot while school officials checked out the source of the problem.

After no more than five minutes, the crowd in the parking lot gladly filed back into the air-conditioned gym and the match soon began without further incident.

It was a matchup between two teams that figure to be in the thick of the playoff races in their respective districts — Los Fresnos in District 32-6A and Sharyland High in District 31-5A.

On this particular day, it was Los Fresnos playing at a higher level by displaying more chemistry with fewer mistakes as the Lady Falcons triumphed in a sweep 25-15, 25-17, 25-19.

“ I felt it was good for our first match together this season,” said Los Fresnos’ Kaitlyn Mata, a senior and three-year member of the varsity. “I think when you start a season with two pretty decent teams playing each other, you’re going to have a little bit of competition between them before one of them breaks away. We managed things well. Going point by point in the beginning is kind of expected (like we did). It’s good that one team could come together and just pull ahead, and we did.”

The Lady Falcons and Lady Rattlers traded points back and forth in the first game as there were 11 ties with the last tie being 15-15. Los Fresnos went up for good in the first game, 16-15, when the Lady Rattlers hit the ball out on a volley.

The Lady Falcons reeled off 10 straight points to win the opening game handily 25-15.

Los Fresnos never trailed in the second game en route to taking a 2-0 edge in the match. The Lady Falcons led by as many as 11 points twice, 20-9 and 21-10. A kill by Los Fresnos’ Sandra Salazar made it 21-10. A block by Victoria Hernandez allowed the Lady Falcons to win the second game 25-17.

“ I think communication and teamwork helped us out a lot because there were a few things that didn’t go right and we could have fixed them,” said Salazar, also a senior and three-year member of the varsity. “Overall, I think we just pulled together. We had an injury (to setter Sarah Villarreal in the third game) and the one (Elizabeth Vasquez) who came in off the bench for her did pretty well, so that was very helpful.

“ I’m just really proud of my team,” Salazar added. “Everyone did a good job, even the younger ones.”

The third game was a close battle and a lot like the first set as there were 16 ties. The final deadlock came at 18-18, and from there, Los Fresnos surged ahead again at the end, outscoring the visitors by tallying seven of the last eight points to win 25-19 and sweep the match.

A cross-court kill by Tate Halford accounted for the final point to help the Lady Falcons prevail.

“ We went point for point with Sharyland for a long time and I just told the girls they needed to break away,” said Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods, now in her 34th season of guiding the Lady Falcons. “Once we broke away, we settled down and started playing our game.

“ Sharyland has some good hitters and we weren’t getting to the blocks like we should have been,” Woods added. “We need to get in position to make the blocks against the other team’s big girls. Otherwise, though, we did well. Winning in three games is always good.”

The Lady Rattlers have a tall player in Estefania Hinojosa who can consistently make things happen on the court. She finished with 17 kills and seven stuff-blocks. Teammate Tristen Maddox added 12 kills and five stuff-blocks.

Los Fresnos’ stats weren’t immediately available. Top hitters for the Lady Falcons included Emma Stambaugh, Mata and Hernandez.

Villarreal injured an ankle with the score tied 16-16 in the third game and is expected to be out approximately two weeks.

Both teams are next scheduled to play in the Poundfest Tournament in McAllen beginning Thursday.

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald

Thanks to soccer, Brandon Montes is becoming a world traveler.

A couple of years ago, he played in Spain on a select soccer team. Now he’s going to China with another select team.

The sophomore-to-be at Porter left Saturday to join a group of under-16 players from the United States and Mexico that will leave for Beijing later this week.

The select team initially was going to meet in Mexico City on Saturday and then go to Toronto to train before traveling to China to play in the Gothia Cup, which is considered the World Cup of youth soccer.

“ They scout you and then they scout you some more,” said Montes when asked how he was chosen for the select team. “It means I’m doing a good job and I should continue doing what I’m doing (on the soccer field).”

Another player from the area who is on the team of 15-year-olds along with Montes is Jorge Hernandez of Los Fresnos.

“ I’m grateful to be on the team and get this opportunity,” said Montes, a midfielder for Porter who was named The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Boys Soccer Newcomer of the Year and earned similar honors on the All-District 32-5A team last spring as a freshman. “We want to bring back the championship trophy. That’s the expectation we have for the tournament.”

The team he is playing on is named Intercups.

“ (Playing on this team) is going to be a way to develop leadership (skills) and get used to playing hard games,” Montes said. “It’ll help me learn how to make quick decisions (on the field during games).”

Porter coach Jose Espitia likes the way the Cowboys’ young standout is evolving as a soccer player.

“ Brandon is an excellent student-athlete,” Espitia said. “He is very intelligent in the classroom and on the field. His ability to read the game is impressive. On top of all that, he is a natural leader on and off the field.

“ This experience (in China) will benefit his development and exposure as a player,” the Porter coach added. “We are very lucky to have such a great kid, an NCAA Division I prospect, at Porter.”

Last spring, the Cowboys qualified for the Class 5A state playoffs as the third-place team from 32-5A. They advanced two rounds in the playoffs with a team basically composed of underclassmen.

One of the Cowboys’ most reliable team members was Montes, an Olympic Development Player (ODP) who played attacking midfielder or midfielder on the wing, as a freshman.

Montes has been working out mornings and afternoons throughout the summer in preparation for his trip to the other side of the world. He said his team will be in China playing in the Gothia Cup event for approximately two weeks.

“ I hope everything goes well over there, we win and we come back safely,” he said.

By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

The “Post Kai Money Era” for St. Joseph Academy football began with a spirited “Midnight Madness” workout at Canales Field during Wednesday’s early morning hours.

Money, the all-everything quarterback who started four years at SJA and put up video game-like numbers as a passer and rusher, graduated a couple of months ago. He’s currently enrolled at the University of Texas-Austin and is a walk-on with the Longhorns.

While the Bloodhounds can’t realistically expect to replace a player of Money’s talent level, they firmly believe they’ll be just fine this season, thank you.

There were 36 enthusiastic varsity candidates on hand at Wednesday’s early morning practice to show everyone that life in football goes on at SJA. The team was missing several freshmen plus a few upperclassmen who have yet to return from vacation.

Thanks to TAPPS rules that allow private schools to begin workouts on Aug. 1, the Bloodhounds became the first Rio Grande Valley team to open the 2018 football season.

According to UIL rules, the earliest public schools can begin practicing football is Monday.

“We’re retooling the recipe of success,” said fourth-year SJA head coach Tino Villarreal, whose Bloodhounds went 7-5 a season ago, advanced two rounds in the TAPPS playoffs and captured the school’s first district football title in 37 years. “Everyone knows this is our first year without Kai (in five seasons). We have some great seniors returning, but the majority of our team is new, so we have a lot of learning to do.

“We have to establish the fundamentals of who we are and raise the football IQ of the players so they understand why we do what we do,” Villarreal added. “We’re going to take our time and go slow (as we bring the new players along). There’s no clock ticking and we’re not in a hurry.

“(At this point) it’s all about working on the fundamentals of blocking and tackling.”

The Bloodhounds have five starters back on each side of the ball and return 21 lettermen overall.

Top players returning are wide receiver Pablo Zolezzi, offensive guard Gabriel Caram, offensive tackles Kevin Garza and Blake Fowkes, free safety David Rodriguez, defensive end Eric Stachowiak and linebacker Antonio del Pozo.

Besides Money, other key losses for the Bloodhounds due to graduation are running back Anthony “Pony” Cantu, wide receiver Andres Martinez, free safety Carlos Esteve and defensive nose tackle Harrison Justice.

Sophomore Tomas Edge figures to take over as the Bloodhounds’ quarterback.

SJA’s first scrimmage is set for Aug. 17 against La Feria at Canales Field.

“With the guys we’ve got coming back, I’m eager to start the season,” Villarreal said.

By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Thousands of girls across Texas reported for the first day of volleyball practice on Wednesday as a new UIL season got underway.

Included among the volleyball teams opening workouts were those in the Rio Grande Valley.

Every team faces a new challenge in 2018, particularly the Rivera Lady Raiders and Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers, who have district titles to defend.

The Lady Raiders captured the District 32-6A crown a year ago with a 14-0 record. The Lady Chargers are two-time District 32-5A champions and boast a 28-0 league mark over the past two seasons.

Rivera is coming off a memorable 2017 season as the Lady Raiders won district for the first time since 2007 and coach Elizibeth Avelar-Guerra recorded her 500th career victory last Sept. 1 with a three-game sweep at home against Edinburg High. In addition to their 14-0 record in 32-6A, the Lady Raiders went 29-11 overall, including a trip to the area playoffs.

“Last year was awesome,” said Avelar-Guerra, who is now in her 26th season guiding the Lady Raiders. “We had a great group of girls.

“(But) last year was last year, and now, we’ve got to get our focus back and work hard again,” she added. “Everybody is good in our district, so it’ll be tough. I’m excited about the season. It’s a matter of how hard our girls want it. The potential is there.”

The Lady Raiders welcome back five players with varsity experience. They are setter Kourtney Shears, libero Madelaine Blanco, hitter/setter Claudia de la Garza, defensive specialist Martha Ramirez and hitter Kaylyn Samano.

There were approximately 40 players on hand for workouts Wednesday at Rivera.

“The main thing we’re doing right now is figuring out our lineup and what positions the girls will play,” Avelar-Guerra said. “Our defense is pretty well set and it’s a strong point for us.”

The Lady Raiders go to Donna High on Friday for a multi-team scrimmage and will play their annual alumni match at noon Saturday.

Meanwhile, Brownsville Veterans is rebuilding after graduating the nucleus of its players from its two-time 32-5A champion.

The Lady Chargers are expected to draw upon their junior varsity and freshman squads of a year ago that each won district.

There were approximately 60 players participating in workouts Wednesday.

“We don’t have a lot of height, but we have girls with athleticism who can leap high,” Lady Chargers coach Lisa Mares said. “We have young girls who are used to winning (at the sub-varsity levels). Hopefully, that will continue for them on the varsity.

“We’re under construction right now,” Mares added. “We hope to be a masterpiece at the end (of the season).”

Players back with varsity experience for Brownsville Veterans are utility player Frida Rangel, outside hitter/defensive specialist Pamela Sanchez and defensive specialist Sara Gomez.

The Lady Chargers play their annual alumni match at 5 p.m. Friday and then go to McAllen Rowe for a four-team scrimmage on Saturday.

Another defending district champion starting a new season is Jubilee Leadership Academy of Brownsville. The Lady Titans went 29-2 and reached the state final four in Texas Charter Schools Academic and Athletic League competition in 2017.

Top players for Jubilee this season are left-side hitter Valentina Tijerina, setter Fernanda Bannock and outside hitter Elise Forte, a promising newcomer. There are nine other returning lettermen.

The Lopez Lady Lobos were one of the first teams to open the new volleyball season as they held a “Midnight Mayhem” conditioning workout in the early morning hours of Wednesday on their artificial turf field on campus.

At Los Fresnos, Becky Woods began her 34th season of coaching the Lady Falcons.

One of the new coaches in the Valley is Pace’s Pamela McCumber. She is replacing Gavin Rudder.

As per UIL rules, Monday marks the first day teams can play regular-season matches.

By ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald

The Lopez Lobos have a new head football coach/athletic coordinator and he’s a local product.

Armando Gutierrez, a middle-school athletic coordinator in Denton, was approved for the position at Lopez on Monday night by the Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees.

Prior to his one-year stint as an athletic coordinator/teacher at Calhoun Middle School in Denton ISD, Gutierrez was the head football coach at Dallas Sunset, a Class 5A high school, from 2012-16.

Gutierrez, who graduated from Hanna approximately 20 years ago, replaces Jason Starkey, who stepped down in mid-February 2018 to enter private business and spend more time with his family after guiding the Lobos to 15 wins and back-to-back playoff appearances during the past two seasons.

The new coach received a standard one-year contract with BISD.

The Lobos begin workouts for the 2018 season next Monday. Gutierrez is expected to report to his new job this week.

Gilbert Leal, BISD athletic director, said there are plenty of positives that prompted the search committee to recommend Gutierrez’s name to the BISD trustees.

“ First of all, we liked that he’s a Brownsville product, and secondly, we liked that he’s improved himself in his educational experience,” Leal said. “He’s a certified athletic coordinator. He’s experienced as a coach and teacher in a multi-school system (in Dallas).

“ Coach Gutierrez is a great communicator who is very energetic,” Leal added. “He has a plan (for what he wants to do). He’s motivated and extremely well-organized.

“ He’s coming home.”

BISD school board member Joe Rodriguez was asked about the trustees’ approval of the hiring and said, “Coach Gutierrez has been high on the list for some time (during the search for a new Lopez coach). The trustees weren’t involved in the search process, but I can tell you he was impressive to the people who did the interviewing. He comes very well-vetted, I’ll tell you that.”

Gutierrez has 14 years of experience as a teacher and coach, including six years as an administrator. He will be returning to Brownsville from his current home in Argyle.

Gutierrez graduated from Texas A&M University-Kingsville with a degree in kinesiology in 2005 and earned a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of North Texas in 2010.

Lopez principal Dahlia Aguilar was influential on the search committee that recommended Gutierrez’s hiring. When a comment regarding the new coach’s hiring was sought from her by calling Lopez on Tuesday, Aguilar, who was not on campus, sent word through a secretary that she was on FMLA leave and unavailable. She referred all questions to Leal.

Gutierrez did not return phone and text messages seeking comment.