SAN ANTONIO — With Lexi Gonzalez in the back row, San Antonio Clemens went on runs of 8-0 in each of the first two sets of the Region IV-6A semifinals Friday as McAllen High couldn’t seem to muster much of an offensive attack.
During the third set, however, that changed as the Bulldogs found ways to play the Buffaloes point for point.
It wasn’t enough, however, as Clemens, led by Shelby O’Neal’s overpowering attacks, claimed a 25-16, 25-18, 27-25 victory to advance to today’s regional semifinal against San Antonio Clark, which beat McAllen Memorial earlier in the day.
O’Neal, a 6-foot outside hitter, was too powerful and accurate for the Bulldogs’ defense and when they did challenge her at the net, she either found a seam, or blasted a block off the defenders’ hands and the ball flew out of bounds.
O’Neal finished the night with 22 kills, while teammates Ashley Breu and Canada Buchanan added 13 and 12 kills, respectively.
“They just have some powerful hitters,” McHi head coach Paula Dodge said. “W tried to match Lexi up against their best hitter but they had several girls who could attack.”
McHi kept up with Clemens in the third set, trying to salvage it and get their team on track. Gonzalez, a senior who set the all-time kills record for McHi earlier in the season, finished the night with 20 kills, many coming during the third set and from the back row as the team set up their leader as often as possible.
“I guess we were nervous in the beginning,” Gonzalez said. “But we got more intense in the last set and tried to get to another set. But they are a great team and I hope they go very far.” (UPDATE: Clemens defeated Clark on Saturday in three sets)
Sophomore Celina Saenz was held in check for the most part through the first two sets before the Bulldogs got into a groove and found ways to attack more than earlier in the match. The result was five third-set kills for Saenz in the set, giving her nine for the match.
McHi trailed in the third set 23-21 when Haidee Moore delivered a kill and Clemens followed with a net violation to tie the set at 23. McHi fought off a match point at 24-23 on an attack error and had set point after a back row kill from Gonzalez. Breu, however, responded with a kill as did Buchanan and Clemens scored on their second match point attempt to claim victory.
“The girls didn’t give up and kept fighting,” said Dodge, whose team finished 46-3 on the season and advanced with a thrilling four-set win over Laredo United in the regional quarterfinals and was ranked as high as third in the state according to the Texas Girls Coaches Association. “That’s the way they play, they just keep pushing.
“Still, this was a wonderful season.”