McHi unveiled its version of shock and awe on Tuesday, unleashing 46 kills, playing absolute staunch defense and defeating two-time District 31-5A champion Sharyland convincingly 25-22, 25-17, 25-15 at McAllen High.

Lefty Gabby Estringel hammered away for a team high in kills and digs, with 15 apiece while middles Isabella Rivera and Karely Cantu added 12 and 11 kills respectively in what may have been the most powerful performance of the season from any Valley team.

It was McHi’s district opener, playing a team that was without its second leading hitter Pamela Pena.

The Bulldogs relentlessly attacked. Their passing was crisp and setter Yaneli Rocha found her hitters for 38 assists to go with nine digs and one solo block. Their middles also found huge openings along the front row corners along the net, taking advantage of it for easy points on multiple occasions. Rivera was her consistent self, tallying 28 attacks with just two attack errors. Cantu, who has been looking to find her consistency to go with her power game, did just that. She also showed a soft touch, often finding those open spots along the front row to gently drop the ball into.

“We came in with the mindset that we had to give it our all and work as a team and that’s what we did,” Cantu said. “The offense executed but I have to give it up to our defense, we couldn’t have done that without them.

“We ran the middles a lot and that helped us – they left those spots open and we tipped there all day. I was just excited for our last first district game and it was exciting to mix things up.”

When the middles weren’t doing their thing, Estringel was making craters on the opposition’s side. She hit from the right side, from the middle and from the back row, showcasing her ability to play all around.

Libero Kaylen Ottmers stood like a human backboard and was in perfect position especially to receive Sharyland’s Kenisha Martinez and her hard-hitting blows. Ottmers finished the day with 25 error-free receptions and 15 digs to go along with a team-best 13 points. Braelyn Martinez also kept points alive, diving into the far reaches of the gym to make saving plays. She and Ottmers also tallied four of McHi’s six aces with two apiece.

“Kaylen takes a lot of pride being the reigning libero of the year for the district,” head coach Estefania Portillo said. “She really was ready for that matchup for today. She read very well tonight and played great defense.”

After McHi took the first set, there was never a “feel” that the Rattlers would battle back. Martinez and outstanding hitter/setter Kassandra De La Garza put together short runs on a few occasions, De La Garza getting points from smashes down the line, McHi’s defense, and quick turnaround offense didn’t allow the dynamic duo from going on any long point-scoring spurts.

Sharyland falls to 21-4 overall and 1-1 in District 31-5A. It was the first time they were swept in a district match since Oct. 23, 2021, also by McHi. The Rattlers face non-district opponent PSJA High at noon Saturday. McHi improved to 16-10 overall and 1-0 in district. The Bulldogs travel to McAllen Rowe at noon Saturday.

1. Sharyland High – 21-1. 3-0 in tournament championships and a 17-match win streak. Two-time defending district champions and with the best 1-2 punch in the Valley with Kenisha Martinez and Kassandra De La Garza. Traveling to McHi on Tuesday The Rattlers are 63-5 during the past two seasons. Until someone knocks them from the top of the hill – and convincingly – they’ll continue to reign as queens of the court.

2. Sharyland Pioneer – 17-3. Playing without arguably their most dynamic player, Aleena Zuniga, the Diamondbacks, as always, are just plain dangerous. They may not be the most exciting team you watch, but that’s because they execute to perfection and make the easy look easy. They have a varied offense, solid middles and on of the top two liberos in the land.

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4. McAllen High – 15-10. Took some bumps and bruises in one of the nation’s largest, and toughest tournaments – Volleypalooza. It’s an event with multiple Div. 1 players and state champions from beyond Texas. During their first match, which they won, the setter on the opposing side was a 6-foot-2 Penn St. commit but hung with everyone. Facing Sharyland on Tuesday. The key to their district play is how well their middles will play – they can dominate or sometimes hide in the shadows. When they dominate – good night.

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   Edinburg Vela – 19-5. Just a little bit away from going good to great. The SaberCats could be a darkhorse in the 31-5A title race if they can gain consistency. They have height, experience and great setters. Their hitters just need to swing more and swing harder and take advantage of being able to look over the defense.

McAllen Rowe – 20-2. The Warriors won’t overpower anyone. But everything is solid – from their usual impeccable defense to a variety of hitters. When Breanna Sanchez gets on a role, they need to ride her to the victory. If one of their other attackers can step it up a bit, it will go a long way in make them a legitimate playoff-run contender.

Los Fresnos – 19-7. The Falcons started the season 3-4, looking for an identity. Looks like they’ve found it, going 16-3 since then. Should run the table for a district title, especially if coach Anissa Lucio keeps them improving.

7. McAllen Memorial – . The Mustangs are looking for that one big win. So far, they’ve won the ones they should with a young team, and look better every time out. Coach Raul Castillo has them on the right path, but their development may take a little while.

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   Mission High – 15-5. The Eagles don’t necessarily have a superstar to carry them, but they have synergy and chemistry – and they are so stubborn when it comes to letting a ball drop. They will challenge for the district title. If they develop a big-time go-to player, they could be the favorite

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   Mission Veterans – 16-4. The Patriots will go as far as Mady Perez can carry them. The freshman star already has more than 160 kills on the season (a 4.7 average) and she’s still holding back, respecting the upperclassmen. Don’t worry, head coach Diana Lerma will make sure her young star unleashes fury as district gets under way. Look out, though, defending district champ Palmview and a surprising Rio Grande City won’t be pushovers

PSJA High – 13-10. Led by stud hitter Julianna Guajardo, other Bears need to step up if they are to win a fourth straight district title. The Bears lost an all-star lineup but Guajardo and middle Kamila Figuero need to take over as vociferous leaders. If they do, and the others continue to develop, 31-6A will be an interesting race.

Sharyland High head coach Lydia De Leon said she wasn’t as concerned with what a streaking Corpus Christi Veterans team would bring to the championship match of the Sharyland ISD Volleyball Tournament as much as how she wanted her hitters to perform.

They performed. Kenisha Martinez, Pamela Pena and Kassandra De La Garza combined for 27 kills – 11, nine and seven respectively as the hottest team in the Valley – and maybe the most sizzling from Corpus Christi  to the Texas-Mexico border – won their third straight tournament championship with a 25-23, 25-17 victory over the Eagles. CC Vets had won 13 of their past 14 matches coming into the final and had secured a pair of tournament titles in Floresville and during their host SpikeFest event. They are 13-4 overall.

“We wanted to see what our hitters could do off the block, finally being able to play a team that our blockers had to adjust to,” De Leon said. “We want to continue to be more dynamic, being able to move the ball around the beam, having multiple threats.”

Sharyland, which seems to thrive during tournaments, won their third tournament of the season, also winning McAllen High’s Poundfest for the second straight year and the Sinton Tournament for the fourth straight year.

Martinez was named the tournament MVP, giving her three tourney title this season. She has won four straight MVPs in the Sinton tournament as well.

De Leon, in her first year coaching at the varsity level, has watched and developed a squad that seemed to have a few question marks when the season began – like who else would step up with their two stars – De La Garza and Martinez. Pena and freshman setter Jayleen Berlanga have been two of those answers.

Pena, a sophomore, seems already prepared to take the torch when the seniors graduate. She is second on the squad with 3.1 kills per set, only behind Martinez’s 4.1 kills per set. She is another serious threat from the outside.

Berlanga is stepping more and more into the setter role and looking comfortable doing sp. She not only provides relief for De La Garza, but allows her more opportunities to swing her heavy hammer-like left hand and keep Sharyland in a 6-2 instead of a 5-1 on offense.

Sharyland has defeated Vets the past two years in the playoffs. Vets, who was swept early in the season in the same gym against Pioneer, exacted their revenge in the semifinals, winning in three sets to set up the finals matchup.

While balance is great, come crunch time, having a go-to player to carry the enormous load down the stretch in a tight game is critical.

Vets rallied from a 22-18 deficit in the first set behind some tight rope serving and the Eagles grabbed a 23-22 lead. That when Martinez and De La Garza did what they’re expected to do. First, Martinez landed a kill on the back line to tie the game at 23. De La Garza followed it with a thunderous kill down the line to set up game point, which happened on a Martinez ace.

“Having multiple threats sometimes can take the pressure of Kenisha and Kassandra. Knowing if they are having a hard day, or are getting blocked, we can send the ball to the other side,” De Leon said. “We were all just very excited to see a team we might face again in the playoffs.

“(Kenisha) is somebody where if she doesn’t have the ball, she’s still out go-to with her voice and leadership. Even when she’s not in the front or part of the play, she’s a go-to in the back leading the team.”

Sharyland improved to 21-3 and it 1-0 in District 31-5A. The Rattlers return to district play Tuesday at McAllen High, a district foe expected to battle for a high seed in the playoffs and, possibly, a district title. Shary won a tournament match against the Bulldogs, two sets to one, earlier this season. The Rattlers are 21-3 overall and have won 17 straight.

“We won’t forget about what happened in this tournament but will use it as fuel to keep going,” De Leon said. “We don’t want to get complacent or to be content – we have McHi on Tuesday.”