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After two days of pool play during the 19th annual McHi Poundfest on Thursday and Friday, one thing is for certain – District 31-5A is going to be brutal once again.

McAllen High, McAllen Memorial and McAllen Rowe all went undefeated for a second day – 6-0 overall each, and District 31-5A – the SEC of South Texas high school volleyball – combined for a 28-2 record heading into Saturday’s bracket play. All five schools from 31-5A advanced to the championship bracket.

The only two losses for 31-5A came from McHi defeating Edinburg Vela, and McAllen Memorial defeating two-time defending district champion Sharyland High.

At McHi, the Bulldogs won all 12 of the sets they played and looked completely dominant most of the day. Gabby Estringel led a powerful front line, including Karely Cantu and Bella Rivera, while also showing some libero-like diving saves. Head coach Estefania Portillo went deep into her talented bench, and every player performed as needed, as expected or better. Sophomore Mackenzie Davidson also had some impactful play time in the middle, providing MCHi with a big block and additional size at the net

The Bulldogs’ defense, sparked by libero Kaylen Ottmers and defensive specialist Braelyn Martinez also played like their school moniker – Bulldogs – serve receiving and passing well to help setter Yaneli Rocha pick and choose which of her arsenal of hitters to choose from. Rocha also showed that defense shouldn’t fall asleep on her, sneaking in a couple of lefty kills throughout the day.

The Bulldogs found themselves in trouble though on a couple of occasions, trailing Edinburg Vela during the first set but then going on a 10-2 run to clinch that set.  They were on the ropes during the first set against PSJA High, led by blistering attacks from the Bears’ Juliana Guajardo, who found her legs and her swing during that match. However, McHi’s resiliency led them to victory.

Rowe swept through its opponents, seemingly with ease with wins over Harlingen South, Port Isabel and Rio Grande City. Brianna Sanchez led Rowe offensively with 19 kills and Kendyl Keenan added 17. Hailey Gonzalez and Katelynn combined for 20 kills. The Warriors will kick off the championship bracket against Vela at 9 a.m. Saturday on Court 1 at McHi. At the same time, Memorial and Los Fresnos will play on Court 2. Rowe and Memorial could meet in the semifinals, which take place at 11 a.m.

McHi opens its day as the top seed and faces Rio Grande City on Court 1 at 10 a.m., while Harlingen South and Sharyland face off at the same time with the winners playing in the other semifinal at noon. The championship match is slated for 2 p.m.

The Silver bracket will take place at McAllen Memorial and the Bronze bracket will be played at McAllen Rowe.

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Reported scores and stats from Monday and Tuesday high school volleyball matches – coaches please send your game scores, stats and record to (956) 821-3834. Thank you!

 

TUESDAY’S GAMES

McAllen Rowe def. Harlingen High 25-23, 25-21, 25-22

ROWE: Hailey Gonzalez 11 kills 2 aces, 9 digs; Brianna Sanchez 5 kills,2 aces14 digs; Kendyl Keenan 4 kills, 5 blocks; Katelyn Tarbutton 5 kills, 2 blocks; Audrina Perez 4 kills, 1 digs, 2 blocks; Andrea Gutierrez 2 assists., 1 ace, 10 digs; Lynette Palacios 6 kills, 3 digs, 7 aces1 block.

McAllen Rowe def. Corpus Christi Ray 25-12, 25-7, 25-12

ROWE (2-0):  Leana Palacios  3 aces; Aubry Castro 2 aces; Hailey Gonzalez 4 kills, 5 aces, 3 digs; Brianna Sanchez 4 kills, 3 aces, 6 digs, 1 block; Kendyl Keenan 11 kills, 1 sig, 3 blocks; Katelynn Tarbutton 5 kills; Audrina Perez 5 kills, 1 dig, 2 blocks; Andrew Gutierrez 1 kill, 1 dig, 1 ace; Lynette Palacios 1 kill, 3 aces, 6 digs.

St. Joseph Academy def. Roma 25-11, 25-13, 25-18

SJA (1-0):  Carmina Tijerina-22 digs; 2 aces; Seanah Mireles 8 kills, 3 blocks,16 assists; Galilea Martinez 7 kills,4 digs; Yvannia Sosa 4 kills, 6 aces, 5 digs; Regina Martinez 5 kills, 2 blocks; Valeria Puig 3 kills,2 aces; Mariana Gonzalez-Paez 9 assists; Skye Hudson 2 kills .

Harlingen South def. Brownsville Vets 19-25, 32-30, 25-19, 25-9

SOUTH1 (1-0):  Malloree Mireles 25 kills, 8 digs, 2 blocks; Ella Ramirez 8 kills, 9 blocks; Raeana Lopez 4 kills, 3 digs; Arial Lopez 1 kill; Kaytlynn Rodriguez 2 digs

Laredo United def. Sharyland 25-16, 18-25, 25-21, 17-25, 15-12

SHARYLAND (1-0): Kenisha Martinez 8 kills, 3 aces; Pamela Pena 17 kills, 2 blocks; Kassandra de la Garza 10 kills, 34 assists, 3 aces; Maria Rodriguez 5 kills, 1 block; Barbara Pena 1 block; Jayleen Berlanga 21 assists.

Mission Veterans def. Edinburg High School 22-25, 20-25, 25-10, 25-23, 15-6

MISSION VETS (1-0): Mady Perez 21 kills; 2 aces, 19 digs, 4 blocks; Sophia Pacheco 24 kills, 1 ace, 14 digs; Heather Flores 39 assists, 5 aces, 11 digs; Monika Regalado 5 aces, 11 digs; Kalie Montalvo1 kill, 3 digs, 3 blocks; Delilah Cantu1 ace, 8 digs, 3 blocks

Pioneer defeated CC Veterans Memorial 25-20, 25-16, 25-17

PIONEER (2-0): Hailey Botello 18 assists, 11 digs, 2 aces; Florencia Curiel 9 digs, 2 assists; Sofia Chapa 6 digs, 1 ace; Izabella Cano 11 digs, 4 kills, 4 aces, 1 block; Danica Gonzalez 12 digs, 4 kills, 3 aces; Itzel Hernandez 5 kills, 1 block; Scarlet Verjel 10 kills, 2 digs, 1 ace, 1 block; Ava Saenz 2 kills, 1 dig, 1 block; Natalia Gonzalez 1 kill, 1 block

Laredo Alexander def. McAllen High 25-17, 25-23, 25-19

McAllen Memorial def. Edcouch-Elsa 31-33, 25-16,25-8

Pioneer defeated Laredo United South 25-22, 25-17, 25-22

Progreso def. La Villa 25-11, 25-19, 25-21

Hidalgo def. Donna 22-25, 17-25, 25-20, 25-9, 15-9

PSJA Southwest def. Hidalgo 26-24, 18-25, 25-17, 25-10

Donna def. PSJA Southwest 25-23, 19-25,m 25-20, 25-14

Edinburg Economedes def. Juarez-Lincoln (no stats or scores provided)

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Sharyland Pioneer looked like they were in midseason form Monday after sweeping both Laredo United South and Corpus Christi Veterans at Pioneer High School.

In reality, however, if was Opening Day for the Diamondbacks

It shouldn’t be much of a surprise when playing against a Laura Cavazos coached team. But Monday’s match seemed a little different. Pressure serving kept Vets on their heels and unable to get the ball to their 6-foot-1 middle Nya White, who delivered some blistering kills, but not nearly as many as the Eagles wanted- and certainly needed.

“We want to be aggressive on the serving line and keep teams off balance,” Cavazos said. “When you play against powerful hitters like that you have to ,have to be aggressive and know where she’s at slowly. We want the blockers to be able to slow the ball down. We’re not asking for  big block every time.”

Instead they got a big play all day as they swept by Vets and Laredo United South.

The Pioneer defense tallied four players with 9 or more digs led by Danica Gonzalez with 12, Izabella Cano had 11 digs and saved one missile were the attack seemed to remove her head – but her quickness got her hands in front of her face and she popped the ball up and turned it into a Pioneer kill. New setter Hailey Botello had 11 digs and 18 assists and standout libero Florencia Curiel registered nine digs.

“Flo looked like a senior out there commanding the back court and I thought we were ready to play.” Cavazos said. “I think we were still working on things throughout the game that we had talked about post scrimmage, they just did a great job of executing.

The most impressive thing about the defense was that it almost always seemed to be in the right place, rarely having to make point-saving fully stretched out dives, even though they executed a perfect. This kept the offensive transition in rhythm for Gonzalez’s 12 kills and Scarlet Verjal’s 10 kills.

The Diamondbacks finished the three sets with 11 aces as well, four from Cano and three from Gonzalez They are both sophomores. The team that looked like they’ve been playing together for four or more years, has just tree seniors.

During the first eight Pioneer points, seven different Diamondbacks made the crucial dig, pass or kill.

“I’ve known this since the start that we are a complete team. We’ve got hitters in the front row and Hailey can get it to them. We’ve got good defense and everybody stepped it up and in the front row they were ready to swing.

“Overall, we were consistent and getting into that groove. But we’ll work on being a little more consistent too.”

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It’s not often that fans on both sides of a crowded gym stand in eager anticipation for the next play to develop.

It’s a collective deep breath, followed by shouts of excitement and awe, then the anticipation swells again.

That’s what it was like for Brownsville St. Joseph Academy’s Deliany Cortinas during the sub-5A All-Star volleyball game this past season at McAllen High.

Time and again, the 5-11 middle went up and not just attacked but exploded on the ball, oftentimes landing well inside the 10-foot line, bringing those in attendance — either cheering for the West or Cortinas’ East team — to their feet time and again, louder and louder, clearly having the most impressive performance of the day’s three matches.

Many of those friends, family, coaches and others were cheering her again Wednesday at St. Joseph as she signed a full-ride scholarship to play volleyball at Ranger Junior College. She joins Los Fresnos setter Jenna Rios as the second signee to join the Rangers’ volleyball team.

“It’s a great chance to go to a good school and to go with my friend (Jenna), who told me a lot of good things about it,” said Cortinas, who was the RGVSports.com All-Area Sub-5A Volleyball Player of the Year last season. “I need to just keep working hard. This is only the beginning.”

Confidence is now a part of her resume to pair with an obvious escalation of talent. Much of that confidence came from her high school coach, Dolores Olguin-Trevino, her club coaches at Valley Venom and that one day where she was a superstar of All-Stars.

“At first I was, like, it’s not a big deal,” Cortinas said about the All-Star event. “But once I saw the crowd and how loud they were, it was awesome and exciting. I’m so glad I’ve had people supporting me.”

Ranger College volleyball coach Nicole Smith said during a phone interview that she was excited to have Cortinas and Rios added to the roster.

“I’m looking forward to them working and growing, and bringing what they have to Ranger College,” Smith said. “They are two outstanding players who have had great coaches in high school and with the Valley Venom coaches. They’ve done a tremendous job getting these young ladies ready for the next level.

“It has also helped that they’ve played together in club, so they know a lot of what each other can do. We are totally excited about our future and them being a part of it.”

“I’ve been growing in my confidence, and I keep growing up,” Cortinas said. “I’m learning to take those things in the past and use them to become a better person. As time goes, you just need to keep working and learning.”

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If Londyn Sosa ever needed to find inspiration, she didn’t need to look far. Her older sister Madisyn was always nearby.

Throughout her years playing volleyball, Madisyn was probably an inspiration to more people than she’ll ever know. An undersized outside hitter at McAllen Memorial, Madisyn exploded like a rocket blasting off when she left her feet on a kill attempt, facing whatever giants who were trying to shut her down. More often than not, she landed victorious.

She was an inspiration again Wednesday in front of family, friends, teammates, coaches and more as she signed to continue her academic and volleyball career at Oklahoma Christian, an NCAA Div. II program that competes in the Lonestar Conference and is located in Edmond, Oklahoma.

That inspiration, however, didn’t come with the end product — her signing day, but the grueling road she took to find her new home. What she endured her senior season would spell “it’s over” for many athletes.

Not for Madisyn Sosa, however,

Early during the first round of district play, at Sharyland, came back to earth from one of her short leaping flights, and collapsed to the floor – this time when she landed, there were no victories involved, no opposing giants to point at. It was the type of fall where anyone who has seen it before knew immediately – it was a knee, in this case a torn posterior cruciate ligament.

Somehow, she returned to the floor during that match, suffering with three different tears, clearly playing in pain. Her biggest weapons, a high flyer with a big arm and a deadly jump serve, were no good to her.

“I went back in with it torn in three different places. I felt this tingling sensation – everybody was telling me I’m fine but I wasn’t fine —  I tried, but it didn’t really work,” Sosa said.

“After that, I thought I wasn’t going to find a home because I tore my knee and was kind of like a has been,” Sosa said. “After visiting, though, I felt like I found a place I was happy with regardless of that knee injury. I found my home.”

However, she refused to let go of her dream of playing at the next level. She returned to play prior to the postseason and, while starting off tentatively, gained both her strength and confidence back to help Memorial to reach the Sweet 16 for the second time during her four years playing on the Mustangs’ varsity squad.

Sosa and her Mustangs, who finished fourth is in District 31-5A, defeated that same Sharyland squad she got injured playing against during the playoffs, ending the Rattlers’ 43-match win streak (the longest in the state at the time) to reach the Region 5-4A semifinals. Sosa ended the day with 10 kills, 13 digs, and one block. She was closer to being back 100% more than anyone could’ve expected in the short time she was out.

“I felt really wanted there,” Sosa said. “At first I didn’t want to go out of state but I thought I should at least give it a shot and when I went there I really wanted to be there – I knew I had found my new home —  and they have a good nursing program and that’s what I want to be. It all really drew me to the university.”

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