BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Down two sets and with her top player sidelined due to injury, Edinburg High coach Deanna Dominguez knew she would need her whole roster to step up.
The Bobcats did just that, and the points started to follow.
Despite losing District 31-6A outstanding setter Dezi Marmolejo during the first set to an apparent concussion, Edinburg High battled back from an early deficit to take down Sharyland High 23-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-13 and 15-9 on Tuesday at Sharyland High School.
“We didn’t let that stop us,” Edinburg’s Tianna Howard said. “Even though she wasn’t here with us, we played for her.”
Howard led the Bobcats with 15 kills, smacking down violent hit after violent hit. She also recorded 3 blocks, 4 digs and an ace.
But Dominguez and Howard said the Bobcats’ success was a full team effort.
“I’m so proud of them, they showed me a lot of character today,” Dominguez said. “I told them every game that we play, there are going to be challenges, and this is our challenge today. We have to overcome it as a team. I’m so impressed with them. … They played their hearts out today.”
Edinburg got contributions from all over the court. Marissa Arce had 7 kills, 3 aces and 23 digs. Amber Reyes notched 8 kills, 2 blocks, 5 aces and 5 digs. Breanna Pena racked up 6 kills, 2 aces and 21 digs. Libero Elizabeth Olivarez accumulated 47 digs.
Yessi Molina moved into Marmolejo’s spot at setter and recorded 5 kills, 23 assists and 35 digs. And little-used freshman Natalie Rodriguez came off the bench to fill Marmolejo’s spot in the lineup, picking up 4 kills, 2 assists, an ace and 9 digs.
“We all helped,” Howard said. “We played together as a team. We fought back. We played like we never have in a while.”
Marmolejo had racked up 7 kills, 2 aces, 6 assists and 2 digs in the first set alone before going to the floor for a dig attempt and knocking her head on the wood as she rolled. Marmolejo was holding her head in her hands as she watched most of the second and third set from the bench. She left the gym during the fourth game with someone holding each arm and was taken to the hospital for further evaluation, Dominguez said.
With Marmolejo unavailable, Edinburg squandered an 18-11 lead in the first set, ultimately losing 25-23.
Dominguez said being without their primary setter rattled the Bobcats in game two, leading to tightness, mental errors and a 25-22 loss.
“We told the girls we don’t have any excuse,” Dominguez said. “Everybody knows how to play. We have to try to win this one for her. We have to try to play for each other. And they did.”
The Bobcats never trailed in taking set No. 3 25-19, then cruised through a dominating fourth game 25-13.
Sharyland High took a 7-5 lead in the fifth and final game, but Edinburg closed out the match with a 10-2 spurt.
“Everyone did their part, really and truly,” Dominguez said. “They took care of business today. I couldn’t be a more proud coach.”
Senior Paige Jones led the Rattlers with 12 kills and 20 assists.
Although originally scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday’s match did not start until after 8. Edinburg High’s bus departed the school around 5 p.m. but was caught in traffic, delaying the start of the junior varsity match until about 6:30 p.m.