As the high school volleyball season nears the end of the regular season, there still are races for district titles, races for playoff positioning and races just to make it into the playoffs.
Here’s a glance at some of the district races
District: 31-6A
Top four teams now: PSJA High (11-1), Edinburg High (11-2), Edinburg Vela (10-3), Edinburg North (10-3).
Key matches: Edinburg North at PSJA High (Oct. 23), PSJA at Edinburg High (Oct. 26).
The Bears still have two of the probable playoff teams to face once more. Possibly the most balanced team in the district with a plethora of hitters, PSJA’s one loss came against Edinburg North, which it faces next week. Edinburg High is still in the running for a district title, a half-game behind the Bears.
District: 32-5A
Top four teams now: Brownsville Veterans (10-0), Brownsville Pace (9-1) , Edcouch-Elsa (7-3), Donna High/Brownsville Porter (tied at 5-5).
Key matches: Brownsville Porter at Donna High (Oct. 16) Edcouch-Elsa at Brownsville Pace (Oct. 16), Donna High at Brownsville Veterans (Oct. 23), Brownville Porter at Edcouch-Elsa (Oct. 23), Brownsville Veterans at Brownsville Pace (Oct. 23), Edcouch-Elsa at Brownsville Veterans (Oct. 26).
Three of Edcouch-Elsa’s remaining games can have significant playoff impact. First for the Yellow Jackets is second-place Brownsville Pace. While E-E is two games behind in the standings, if the Jackets can win out, they have a shot at taking second place. Pace also has a rematch against Brownsville Veterans, the only team it lost to earlier this season.
Donna High can take a huge step Saturday as Brownsville Porter comes to town. The two are tied at 5-5 in the district with four games remaining and Porter with the tougher remaining schedule.
District: 31-5A
Top four teams now: Sharyland Pioneer (9-1), McAllen Memorial (9-1), McAllen Rowe (7-3), McAllen High (6-4).
On the bubble: Sharyland High (5-5).
Key matches: McAllen High at McAllen Memorial (Oct. 16), Sharyland Pioneer at McAllen Rowe (Oct. 16), Sharyland High at Sharyland Pioneer (Oct. 19), McAllen High at Sharyland (Oct. 23), Sharyland Pioneer at McAllen Memorial (Oct. 26).
The season began with one huge question: who isn’t going to make to the postseason? In a district that has had five different teams ranked, playoff positions will be determined at the end. More than likely, the Pioneer-Memorial game will not only be the game of the year, but will decide the top two seeds from that district. Rowe is safely in the postseason at 7-3.
McHi and Sharyland are hoping for upsets over Memorial and Pioneer on Saturday before they face one another with the fourth and final postseason berth on the line. McHi won the first meeting in five sets. Pioneer defeated Memorial in four sets.
District: 30-5A
Top four teams now: Mission Veterans (6-0), Laredo Martin (5-1), Roma 3-3, La Joya Palmview (2-2).
On the bubble: Rio Grande City (1-5), Laredo Cigarroa (1-5).
Key matches: Mission Veterans at Laredo Martin (Oct. 19).
Barring an upset, Laredo Martin is the only team that stands in the way of a seventh straight undefeated district championship for the Mission Veterans Patriots. Those two will meet Oct. 19 in Laredo. Mission Veterans head coach Diane Lerma is on pace to pick up her 700th career win before the season ends.
District: 32-4A
Top four teams now: Rio Hondo (7-0), La Feria (4-3), Raymondville (4-3), Grulla/Hidalgo (tie 3-4).
Key matches: All involving La Feria, Raymondville, Grulla and Hidalgo.
It seems like every season there’s some type of pileup somewhere in the standings, this year being for the second, third and fourth seeds among four teams, since Rio Hondo has all but mathematically clinched the district title.
Check out the standings at rgvsports.com.