ELSA — With Edcouch-Elsa behind 2-1 and losing big in the fourth set, senior Vida Ybarra helped orchestrate a Yellowjackets comeback.
The Yellowjackets defeated Brownsville Pace in five sets 25-20, 14-25, 15-25, 25-23, 16-14 on Saturday at Edcouch-Elsa High School.
“Their mentality going in was the difference,” Edcouch-Elsa head coach Gloria Trevino said. “We knew going in that they were undefeated, and we wanted to be a spoiler.”
The Yellowjackets and Vikings went back and forth during the final set. Down 14-13 in the final set, Ybarra found her spot and delivered a powerful kill to tie the match. Ybarra again struck well to give her team the lead at 15-14.
The Vikings hit the ball into the net on the final point.
“It is a well-deserved win,” Trevino said. “We are trying to go up in the standings, so we do not end up third or fourth.”
The win moves the Yellowjackets to 8-3 in district and the loss drops the Vikings to 10-1. There are still seven matches remaining in District 32-5A volleyball.
In the first meeting between the two teams, the Vikings came out on top, sweeping the Yellowjackets in Brownsville.
Ybarra was pivotal in the fourth set as well. The senior won the set for the Yellowjackets after going down big courtesy of Brownsville Pace’s Andie Lozano-Lomeli, who led the Vikings a 7-2 lead in the set before Edcouch-Elsa came roaring back.
The Vikings won the second and third sets because of strong blocking. Luz Martinez and Lozano-Lomeli racked up points at the net as they built comfortable leads early in both sets. They both blocked Ybarra’s shots, and Bryanna Narvaez was in the right spots for digs.
Ybarra also won the first set for the Yellowjackets when her hit found space behind the back row. Ybarra was set by freshman Lylah Gonzalez throughout the match.
The Yellowjackets will face Donna North at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Donna North. The Brownsville Pace Vikings take on Harlingen South at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brownsville Pace.