By ROY HESS, STAFF WRITER
Cynthia Garcia is a standout student-athlete on and off the volleyball court for the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers.
She’s a senior outside hitter who supplies plenty of offense for her team, often recording double-digit kills in matches.
Garcia can be quite effective from the left side as she proved last Saturday. She is coming off an 18-kill performance during a 25-18, 25-20, 28-26 victory at home against Edcouch-Elsa that enabled the District 32-5A defending champion Lady Chargers to stay atop the conference standings at 3-0.
Garcia also ranks as the valedictorian of her senior class.
“Cynthia works so hard on and off the court,” Lady Chargers coach Lisa Mares said. “Everybody admires her. The younger players say, ‘She’s so smart!’ and they’re so happy to get a high five from her.”
Garcia is one of a talented group of senior players for the Lady Chargers, who won 32-5A with a 14-0 record last season and appear very capable of repeating that feat in 2017.
Other members of the Lady Chargers’ standout senior group include middle blockers Bridget Himes and Rebecca Cardenas, outside hitter/all-around player Cassie Valdez, right side hitter Brianna Estrada, libero Kasandra Jimenez and back-row defensive player Maryela Angeles, who has been out due to an unexpected surgery since the beginning of the season.
“It’s pretty amazing to be a part of this team,” said Garcia, a two-year varsity player. “We’re all just one family and all trying to better ourselves and be there for each other like we were against Edcouch-Elsa.
“I think we’re doing well,” she added. “During practice we’re trying to improve our technique and our hitting so we can surprise our opponents and it’s paying off. I love it that we’re constantly communicating with each other (on the court). We don’t want to ever let up.”
Garcia attempts to give a full effort to every one of her endeavors whether it’s athletics or academics.
“I just try to give it my all on every point, no matter what, so we can be undefeated and district champs (again),” said Garcia, who plans to attend college out of state with the intent of one day becoming an obstetrician. “I’m immensely proud of how my team is playing. I believe we have so much potential and there’s so much more we can do.”
The Lady Chargers face their next 32-5A challenge today at Lopez in a 7 p.m. match.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess