ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Sooner or later, Rio Grande Valley teams run into strong Laredo challengers in the Class 6A state volleyball playoffs.
It happens today during the area round of the postseason. District 32-6A champion Los Fresnos (36-8) takes on District 29-6A runner-up Laredo Alexander (27-10) at 2 p.m. in Alice, and 32-6A runner-up Brownsville Rivera (28-12) goes against 29-6A champion Laredo United (38-5) at 3 p.m. in Roma.
Also, Harlingen South (35-8), the No. 3 playoff seed from 32-6A, plays host to District 30-6A champion McAllen High (43-2) at noon today in an area-round playoff match.
McHi is considered the top team in the Valley.
“I’m telling our girls just to keep their composure,” South coach Anissa Lucio said. “McHi is a great team and we know it’ll be a high-intensity match, so we just want to play our game.”
The Lady Hawks opened the playoffs Tuesday with a 25-12, 25-9, 25-20 bi-district win over District 31-6A runner-up Edinburg North, Also Tuesday, McHi won its bi-district match 25-15, 25-17, 25-14 against 29-6A fourth-place Laredo United South.
Los Fresnos is getting a rematch with a Laredo Alexander team the Lady Falcons lost to in four games Sept. 7.
“I’m telling our girls to just stay humble and calm, and just play the game like any other match we have played this season,” Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods said. “We have a very good team, and if we can play together as a team and play our positions well, we will be OK. We can’t get down on each other or ourselves. We need to stay focused every point.
“We are excited because this is the fun part of the season,” Woods added. “It’s like icing on the cake. I tell the girls, ‘It’s one (loss) and out (in the playoffs). Make the best of it, because you don’t get a second chance.’”
Los Fresnos defeated 31-6A fourth-place Weslaco High 27-29, 25-16, 25-20, 25-16 in bi-district Tuesday. The same night, Laredo Alexander was a 27-25, 25-10, 25-19 bi-district victor against 30-6A third-place PSJA High.
Rivera hasn’t played Laredo United yet this season. Still, Lady Raiders coach Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra knows to expect a strong showing from the 29-6A champions, who have their share of tall, talented players.
“It’s going to be a tough match,” Avelar-Guerra said. “We’ve been working on different situations and how to handle them to give us a better chance to do well. If we play like we’re capable of playing, I think we have a good chance.”
The Lady Raiders were led in Monday’s bi-district match at Edinburg High by sophomore hitter Kenya Ibarra, who registered 35 kills. Rivera won 25-22, 25-15, 25-17 over 31-6A third-place Edinburg High.
“I think Kenya will give it her best again,” Avelar-Guerra said. “She had a great match in bi-district.”
Laredo United won its bi-district match Tuesday against 30-6A fourth-place McAllen Rowe 25-18, 25-17, 25-16.
Meanwhile, Jubilee Brownsville is advancing to next week’s third round of the Class 3A playoffs after winning an area-round match in epic fashion Thursday in Kingsville. The Lady Titans prevailed against Skidmore-Tynan 19-25, 18-25, 25-23, 26-24, 18-16.
Jubilee plays either Corpus Christi London or George West next week in a 3A regional quarterfinal.