By ROY HESS and KEVIN NARRO
Staff Writers
Playoff time is just about here for Rio Grande Valley volleyball teams, so it’s time to start talking about the postseason.
The playoffs begin in all classes for UIL teams on Oct. 29.
In District 32-6A, frontrunners Los Fresnos (7-0) and Brownsville Hanna (6-1) have clinched spots in the postseason with three match dates left on the schedule.
Los Fresnos has been the area’s model of consistency by qualifying for the playoffs 13 years in a row. Becky Woods has taken the Lady Falcons to the postseason 22 times during her 34 years as the Los Fresnos coach, with 13 district titles.
In the hunt for the final two playoff berths from 32-6A are San Benito (3-4), Harlingen High (2-5), Brownsville Rivera (2-5) and Harlingen South (1-6). Even the Lady Hawks are still mathematically alive.
District action continues at 6:30 p.m. today as Rivera visits South, San Benito travels to Hanna and Los Fresnos plays host to Harlingen High.
“We just need to keep working hard and keep trying to get better so we can get to the playoffs,” said Rivera coach Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra, whose Lady Raiders are defending 32-6A champions. “We just need to keep working. We can do it.”
ON THE REBOUND: After losses to Los Fresnos and Harlingen High during its two previous matches, San Benito regrouped with a win against Harlingen South on Saturday.
The Lady ’Hounds made quick work of the Lady Hawks with a clean sweep, 25-21, 25-23, 25-21. Against South, San Benito’s Alysa Naranjo collected 15 kills and 20 digs. Also for San Benito, Devany Castillo had 12 kills, Ariel Garcia led the team with 45 assists and nine digs, and Sarah Garcia finished with a team-high 39 digs.
Capturing at least one more win out of their last three matches against Hanna, Rivera and Los Fresnos should get the Lady ’Hounds to the postseason.
32-5A UPDATE: Three match dates also remain in District 32-5A with Edcouch-Elsa (11-0), Brownsville Veterans Memorial (9-2) and Donna High (8-3) having clinched playoff berths.
After the top three, the other teams in the 32-5A standings are Brownsville Lopez (6-5), Brownsville Porter (4-7), Mercedes (4-7), Brownsville Pace (2-9) and Valley View (0-11).
Today’s schedule of 7 p.m. matches in 32-5A has Porter at Brownsville Veterans, Mercedes at Pace, Donna High at Lopez and Valley View at E-E.
SET TO THREE-PEAT: The train continues to roll in La Feria. The Lionettes picked up a 25-13, 25-11, 25-15 sweep over Raymondville on Saturday.
La Feria is alone in first place in District 32-4A with an 11-1 record, with two matches remaining against Grulla and Rio Hondo.
The Lionettes have clinched a share of the 32-4A title and can win the district outright for the third straight season with a win at 6:30 p.m. today at home against Grulla. Other 32-4A matches today have Port Isabel (2-10) at Zapata (7-5), Raymondville (2-10) at Hidalgo (9-3) and Rio Hondo (7-5) at Progreso (3-9).
La Feria and Hidalgo have clinched playoff spots.
Against Raymondville, La Feria’s Karina Diaz notched 20 assists, Sierra Salinas finished with 16 kills and two digs, and Natalie Gonzalez collected 12 kills and six digs.
District 32-4A is open Saturday and will have its final day of matches Monday.
ON FIRE: Rio Hondo has caught fire and has won four matches in a row in 32-4A to put itself in playoff contention.
On Friday, the Lady Bobcats defeated Port Isabel 25-23, 25-9, 24-26, 25-18, giving Rio Hondo a two-match sweep of the Lady Tarpons in district. Against Port Isabel, Rio Hondo’s Kelsey Pizarro finished with 13 kills, 14 digs and one ace. Teammate Taylor Gomez wound up with 11 kills, 11 digs and four blocks, and Amber Gonzalez added 25 assists.
QUITE A SERVER: During St. Joseph Academy’s TAPPS district win Saturday against Corpus Christi John Paul II, the Lady Bloodhounds’ Halima Dervisevic gave quite a performance behind the service line in a 25-0 third-game win. She served all 25 points and had 10 aces during the set.
SJA won the match 25-21, 25-20, 25-0 on the road to improve to second place in its district with a 5-2 record. The Lady Bloodhounds play host to undefeated Victoria St. Joseph at 3 p.m. Saturday in a matchup of the district’s top two teams.