DONNA — Edinburg High’s Jazmin Cuellar is hard to miss on the court. Standing at 5-foot-10, the senior middle hitter is an imposing threat at the net for the Bobcats.
Cuellar wasted no time showcasing her combination of size and talent Friday, delivering a dynamic kill to cap off a 4-0 run by the Bobcats during their opening set against Mercedes.
Her spike set the tone for the match, as the Bobcats swept the Tigers 25-5, 25-18, during their opening match of the Donna ISD volleyball tournament Friday at the Donna High Gymnasium.
After dominating the opening set, the Bobcats found themselves in a 4-1 hole to start the second set. Cuellar then went to work, tallying four kills and two blocks during a 7-1 Bobcats run.
Still, the Tigers continued fighting, cutting the deficit to six before Cuellar sealed the victory with a crushing spike.
Cuellar finished the match with a team high eight kills and three blocks, while also serving as the team’s captain on the court. Sophomore middle hitter Emily Carranco chipped in six kills and two blocks.
“Jazmin is a phenomenal player,” Bobcats head coach Deanna Dominguez. “She did not just wake up like that. She’s a kid who’s put in countless hours to make herself as good as she is, and she’s not satisfied. She’s a huge presence at the net.
“She’s very vocal on the court. She’s constantly talking to the hitters when they’re swinging or passing. If you listen, you can hear her.”
Led by Cuellar and Carranco, the Bobcats finished pool play with a 2-1 mark, their lone blemish coming during a 25-11, 22-25, 7-15 loss to the Laredo Martin Tigers, who finished a top of Pool G with an 3-0 record.
Laredo Martin punched its ticket to the championship bracket today, while the Bobcats will wait and see which bracket they will be a part of.
Still, Cuellar said she believes the experience of pool play is one that will help the Bobcats in the long run.
“Not just for the tournament, but for the season going forward it lets us know that we can beat other teams that are outside of our district and our city. It let’s us know that we’re not just ‘good’ in our city or our district.”
Joining Laredo Martin in the championship bracket are the Edcouch-Elsa Yellow Jackets, earning the top spot in Pool F with victories over Brownsville Lopez, Edinburg Economedes and Rio Hondo.
Mission High and Harlingen High punched their tickets to the championship tournament, posting 3-0 marks to earn first in Pool D and Pool E, respectively.
Friday’s four winners join the Mission Veterans, Roma and San Benito, who qualified for the Gold Bracket after winning their respective pools Thursday.
The 28 tournament is set to continue at 9 a.m. today. The top eight teams will compete in the Gold Bracket at the Donna High Gymnasium. The Silver Bracket, which is made up of seeds 9-16, will take place at the Donna North practice gym, while the Bronze and Ruby Brackets will be held at the Donna High gymnasiums.