RGVSports.com
Edinburg North and PSJA High faced off for the third time Friday night for the right to compete in this week’s 2017 UIL state volleyball playoffs. The meeting between the Cougars and Bears was a rematch from Tuesday night, when Edinburg North’s thrilling 19-25, 25-10, 23-25, 25-19, 15-8 win in San Juan ended both teams’ regular seasons with identical 6-8 district records.
After the Cougars forced a one-game playoff, they lost the coin flip, meaning they’d have to make a second road trip to the PSJA High campus in four days. Edinburg North prevailed once again in a three-game sweep 26-24, 25-22, 25-15.
“Playing there Tuesday helped us, because there’s some familiarity there with the gym and the environment,” Edinburg North coach Adrian Cavazos said. “We kept trying to emphasize that this was their chance to win. A lot of people had written us off about halfway through the second round (of district), but they persevered. This was their chance to prove everybody wrong.”
Edinburg North failed to qualify for the playoffs last season after doing so in each of the eight previous years. The Cougars sputtered out to a 5-16 start this season, which directly impacted the health of Cavazos.
“I had some stress issues before the first two games of district,” Cavazos said. “My assistant (Raul McCallum) did a good job of running the team while I was out. When I got back, it was good to be back, but there was a lot going on. We’ve been pretty successful lately the last few years, and it was starting to look like we weren’t going to be again this year. I took that pretty hard.”
Cavazos returned to the sidelines for the team’s Sept. 16 home game against PSJA North. Edinburg North remained in the playoff hunt with PSJA High until the Cougars needed to overtake the Bears at the end of the season.
Edinburg North (12-24, 7-8) will now head on the road again and take on District 32-6A champion Brownsville Rivera, which breezed through district play with a 14-0 record. Game time is set for 7 p.m. Monday.
“Traditionally, they’ve (Rivera) always been pretty good defensively, but they’ve added some offense this year,” Cavazos said. “We played them earlier this year at home when we were still experimenting with lineups. We’ve had our current lineup for our second round of district. The girls are getting comfortable with the person next to them and with themselves. They’re playing well.”
MISSION HIGH SWEEPS LA JOYA HIGH
Mission High swept past La Joya High 25-12, 25-13, 25-23 on Friday night and will move on to face Laredo United in the bi-district round.
“I knew it’d be difficult (this season) after graduating seven seniors from last year’s team,” Mission High coach Edna Clemons said. “I told the girls that we’re going to have to work, work, work until we get where we need to be.”
The Eagles entered the year with three returning players who were senior starters, and Clemons knew she could put her trust in them coming into Friday’s game.
“The seniors made their speech to the younger girls,” Clemons said. “They know our goal has always been to make the playoffs and go past the first round.”
Mission High will face Laredo United at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the Roma Middle School campus.