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There was a time in sports when a utility player was someone who could do multiple things and play multiple positions to fill in.

But, that utility player would usually lacked something that the starter had – either on offense or defense.

That definitely isn’t the case with Sharyland Pioneer sophomore Aleena Zuniga. Listed as a setter is a little devious. She’s a hitter, blocker, defender, and by season’s end, a vocal leader who guided the Diamondbacks to a 38-7 overall record and 15-3 in District 31-5A.

“Aleena started leading by her actions as the year progressed,” head coach Laura Cavazos said. “And when she started hitting the ball, she brought it hard.”

Zuniga finished second on the team in assists (605), splitting time with senior Tera Schumacher (659) in the 6-2 rotation. She was also third in aces, third in digs and third in blocks. while hitting at a .294 clip.

Those numbers, however, are a little deceiving since Zuniga started the season getting a feeling of what her role was on a very disciplined squad. Midway through, it was obvious that her role was a lot of everything – and she did exactly that.

One of her biggest highlights came in a 3-2 win over Laredo Alexander where she tallied 16 kills, two aces, and a game high 14 digs and 25 assists. She eclipsed the 20-assist mark in nine of the Diamondbacks final 18 matches and eight times ended a match with 10 or more kills.

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Kassandra De La Garza earned her second straight All-Area Setter of the Year award during a season in which she also became a dominant force attacking. And she has another year to go.

Known for her silky pure touch and being able to control the ball with pinpoint sets from anywhere on the court, De La Garza also became a major force on the right side.

She averaged 5.1 assists per mach in the Rattlers 6-2 offense and will surpass 2,500 assists – with 3,000 also being a possibility, during her senior season. Her 340 kills (2.7 per set) was a career high and sets her up to have a shot at surpassing 1,000 kills next season.

Being a lefty at the net also forced blockers to hold their ground ever so slightly longer, opening options for De La Garza all across the net.

“Kassandra really added a dimension to her game and what we could do by being more aggressive and attacking at the net more,” Castillo said. “Her being able to distribute the ball like she does and put it down when we need it just makes her all the more dangerous.”

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Setter of the Year – Jenna Rios, Los Fresnos

Los Fresnos senior Jenna Rios continued where she left off last season to pick up the setter of the year award in back-to-back seasons.

Rios, also the back-to-back District 32-6A setter of the year, had a standout career with over 2,000 career assists.

The senior setter has eyes on colleges and her teammates this season by providing 971 assists and showed her versatility as a setter with 353 digs and 87 aces.

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To this day, Elaiza Martinez remembers one of her first blocks during a Boys & Girls league match. It was one of those “no doubt about it” blocks that immediately turned her from a middle blocker to an “Intimidator.”

That one play created a blocking monster. Last season, Martinez tallied 183 blocks as the Gladiators completed a 29-10 overall record and finished second in District 30-5A at 12-2. Martinez ended her season with 183 blocks, good for 25th in the nation. More than 150 of those blocks were solos –placing her in the top 10 nationwide. In comparison, Prosper’s Ayden Ames, the 6-foot-4 middle for Class 6A Prosper and a Texas commit, tallied 165 blocks last season en route to being named the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year.

Martinez’s defensive prowess at the net and ability to “put the roof on things” have earned her The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Defensive Player/Blocker of the Year.

Depending on which side of the net you were on, she was either a momentum killer or a momentum starter,

“With her at the net, we can do so many other things defensively,” head coach Angie Garcia said. “Sometimes it’s just best to stay out of her way and let her go at it alone up front and for us to be ready defensively for if a ball bounces off her.”

But for those who think they just have to worry about her on defense will have a mighty surprise coming their way. Martinez eclipsed 500 kills for the second straight season and ended her career with 1300-plus kills, hitting above .290 in each of her past two seasons.

There’s no doubt Roma will miss Martinez, a once in generation type player. Meanwhile, the rest of the district will undoubtedly rejoice.

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Libero of the Year – Bryanna Narvaez, Brownsville Pace

Not many teams took sets off Brownsville Pace this season, the Vikings only dropped eight sets in its District 32-5A title winning season, and at the heart of the defense was senior Bryanna Narvaez.

Narvaez finished with 469 digs this season and also kept the ball in system to help ensure that the hitters on the Vikings had chances. Brownsville Pace went on to win 31 matches with Narvaez in the middle of the back row.

“If we do not have a good pass, we can’t really run the offense,” Narvaez said. “So, I think I did play a big role on the team.”

Brownsville Pace head coach Daya Venegas said Narvaez improved her serve receiving drastically this season, was key to the success and will be missed next season.

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Some athletes were born to play certain positions. Alexa Carranza was one of those.

The senior libero made the position look like at a relaxing day at home. Even though the ran to the outer limits of any gym, dove into stands, crowds and scorer’s tables, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

For Carranza, The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Libero the Year, every day was just another day at the office, her demeanor – calm and cool – spread throughout a team of high-energetic (a.k.a. – spazzes) teammates and helped keep them focus. She led quietly but her words carried more when she needed to speak.

Her defensive skills and instincts, however were what truly set her apart. Going into the season, Carranza was considered the best back-row defender among most coaches, players and officials. She didn’t disappoint. Watching her make a miraculous save became cliché, seeing her take a serve and pass it perfectly for a first-touch kill was the norm.

She takes her rapidly moving self to play volleyball and continue to academic career at the University of Central Arkansas for this spring semester.

Carranza ended the season with 462 digs (12.8/match) and another 500-plus serve receives (you’d think opponents would stop doing that). Her preparedness and instincts to be where the ball was heading was unparalleled as PSJA compiled a third district title – second straight undefeated – and ended the year 37-6. A team loaded with offense got that offense started usually after Carranza touched the ball and quickly turned defense into attack mode.

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Malloree Mireles, junior, Harlingen South

Harlingen South junior Malloree Mireles, had another stellar season to help the Hawks back into the playoffs after missing out last season.

Mireles has over 800 career kills for the Hawks. The junior said she was happy with her power kills this season. Mireles was award the district’s opposite of the year because of her lethal left hand.

Mireles is putting the district on watch next season and is hoping for a special season that includes a gold ball.

Shiloh Jones, senior, Los Fresnos

Jones, a senior at Los Fresnos, was the go-to-hitter for the Falcons and stepped up hugely to help her team to a bi-district playoff victory.

Jones, the District 32-6A MVP, finished the season with 526 kills and over 1,000 career kills. Jones also had 36 aces and is committed to Blinn College.

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Sharyland High’s Kenisha Martinez jumped a little higher, hit a lot harder and successfully worked on placing the ball with pinpoint accuracy. She mixed up her shots, increased her

personal arsenal and expanded her angles. She also had a devilish topspin jump serve that dazzled opponents.

She led her Rattlers in digs and receptions. But, when it came down to it, she hit – and hit some more.

Most importantly, Martinez’s ability to take over a match gave her team time to work themselves more into a system that earned them a second straight District 31-5A title, going 18-0 in district and 44-2 overall. For her dominant performance during the 2023 season, Martinez has been named The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Volleyball Hitter of the Year.

“Everyone knows Keni is our go-to player, she draws the blockers and she’s going to come up big,” head coach Raul Castillo said. “She just does what she does and is a force out there. I’m glad she plays on our team.

Behind Martinez, the Rattlers ran off 43-straight victories, falling only to PSJA High during the second match of the year and to district rival McAllen Memorial during the playoffs, cutting short a dream season.

Next season could be a milestone one for Martinez, The Monitor’s 2022 All-Area Player of the Year and 2021 Newcomer of the Year as she closes in on her 2,000th kill, 300th ace and 1,500th dig.

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The House of Pain, Brownsville Pace’s gym, was alive this volleyball season, even on a quiet Saturday afternoon because of a special team and a very special player, Andie Lozano-Lomeli.

The Brownsville Pace senior middle stole the show this season to help lead the Vikings to a District 32-5A title, the first district title in 20 years, and doing so as a humble leader with an infectious personality and a strong middle presence that terrorized opposing defenses.

Lozano-Lomeli is The Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star MVP for the 2023 season.

Not many athletes can make an impact on a program like Lozano-Lomeli has done for Brownsville Pace, and not just this season, but in her four years.

Most volleyball matches on a Saturday tend to not draw the largest crowds, usually attended by family members, a few old timers and maybe some football players catching the action after receiving similar treatment from Friday night games.

However, with Lozano-Lomeli, there was always a decent crowd on those usually quiet noon matches, but especially on Tuesday night to see Brownsville Pace’s best team in 20 years, but to also witness the city’s best hitter.

After the match, the middle hitter would be surrounded by starstruck younger volleyball seeking photos with their favorite player. Lozano-Lomeli relished in the opportunity to be an example to the youth looking up to her.

“I grew up at Pace because my mom has worked there my whole life, so I was always around the gym watching the older girls and envisioning the possibilities of my future,” Lozano-Lomeli said.

“They were and are a constant reminder of what I wanted to be. This is why it’s so full circle for me to be a role model for the younger girls, as I feel I can inspire them to grow.

“Another factor of growing in the Viking community is I have lots of school pride, which is why being MVP this year means so much. I got the opportunity to represent my school and community through volleyball, it’s important to own where you are from and represent your past.”

Lozano-Lomeli had the opportunities to play at other schools, but wanted to represent her home and because of this learned to work hard and not necessarily go the easier route, she said.

The senior could have easily sat out as a freshman or sophomore, or even as a junior and played at a different school, but at Brownsville Pace she helped a team that had not had much recent success into becoming a top team in the Brownsville area along with Brownsville Veterans, Brownsville Rivera and Los Fresnos.

Lozano-Lomeli finished this season with 458 kills, 101 digs, 68 total blocks and 28 aces. The senior was crucial late in sets and important in clashes with district rivals.

Being a key player in the Valley this season gave Lozano-Lomeli plenty of confidence in those moments, she said. The senior provided a meeting at Harlingen South as an example of having to step up.

Lozano-Lomeli is quick to credit her teammates and her coach Daya Venegas for her success. Venegas added plays this season to enhance Lozano-Lomeli’s talents.

“She will be a difficult player to replace, not only due to her talent but also due to her humble leadership. She is one who always leads by example, motivates, and binds a team together,” Venagas said.

Venegas added that Lozano-Lomeli’s passion for the sport and pride in her school is contagious, and that coupled with her intelligence and inviting spirit makes her a role model to many.

“Whenever we had camps or visited the feeding schools, she doesn’t hesitate to speak on behalf of the program, and you can see the look in the younger girls’ eyes, eager to one day be just like her,” Venegas said.

Lozano-Lomeli became a better athlete because of her community, team, family and coaches she said and hopes to become an even better one playing college volleyball.

The senior middle is committed to Texas Lutheran University.

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All year, the comments were the same. Actually, for the past four years. They came from opposing coaches in the district, across the Rio Grande Valley and up through portions of the state.

“We knew we had to watch out for No. 14,” Rouse head coach Jacob Thompson said. “She’s a heck of a player and great athlete. She was going to get hers, there was no doubt about it.”

Those comments came following a loss to Rouse in the Region IV-5A semifinals, one game after McAllen Memorial’s Amare Hernandez helped decimate Sharyland and end the Rattlers’ state-best 43 straight wins streak. The senior outside had a match-high 18 kills on an eye-popping .412 hitting percentage in the sweep that sent the Mustangs to the Sweet 16 for the third time in the past five seasons.

Hernandez, a Texas A&M volleyball signee, has been named The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Volleyball Player of the Year.

The 5-foot-11 four-year starter completed her season with 544 kills (4.2 kills/set) on a .292 hitting clip. She ranked 51st in the state in total kills, according to MaxPreps.com and only two other Valley players had more total kills. But the number of kills is nowhere near as impressive as the explosive sound they made when she hammered away.

One person on the sideline shook the first time Hernandez hit the ball during a match. “My goodness,” the lady said. “It sounded like a canon.”

Opposing players who tried to defend an oncoming Amare Asteroid took it another step farther – it felt like a cannon ball.

Fellow bombers Leah Garcia (306 kills) and Madisyn Sosa (274 kills) played close to 40 fewer sets than Hernandez due to injuries/sickness etc.. That put all eyes – and defenders – on Hernandez’s outside thunder.

Known for her innocent smile and not-as-innocent offense, Hernandez made it a point to increase her effort and skills on defense. To keep Memorial out of system, opponents would often target her. In response, she finished second on the team in serve receptions with 466, and digs with 401, only behind libero Juliet Trevino (603 and 427, respectively). She also topped the squad with 68 aces.

In what will become a legendary story for the already volleyball legend, it was while Hernandez was at an A&M camp that the head coach was sitting in his office, hearing the thump of the ball as the players warmed up. Every so often, though, there was an extra-loud explosion. Coach figured it was someone from his team.

“Coach, you gotta come see this girl,” an assistant said, as he barged into the office.

Hernandez had all but given up on getting noticed for A&M volleyball. Then, she got noticed.

Citing her arm strength, her ability and her personality, A&M head coach Jamie Morrison said by video that Hernandez will fit right in to the Aggie family.

“This has been my dream, since as far back as I can remember,” Hernandez said. “I’m just so excited to be an Aggie now.”

[email protected] / Photos by Joel Martinez/rgvsports.com and courtesy by Christian Inoferio

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