BROWNSVILLE — Brownsville Veterans Memorial senior Elise Fourt stepped up in big games for a Chargers team that won 31 games including another District 32-5A championship and a bi-district playoff win.
Fourt is The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Player of the Year.
Fourt had a terrific supporting cast around her, giving specific praise to her setter Paulina Ramirez.
Outside hitters Marifer Solis and Monserrat De Los Santos were two of the best in the Metro area. Kassy Garcia and Andrea Chapa took care of business in the back row and when Fourt rotated out, Tamar Lane stepped in defensively.
But when the Chargers needed a point in big games, Fourt was there. Fourt finished the season 387 kills to go along with 46 blocks, 61 assists, 62 digs and 26 aces.
“She was our go to,” Brownsville Veterans Memorial head coach Sherry Hoskins said. “If we told her to go and take that ball away, she took that ball away. We knew that if we got her the ball, she could do something with it. She was able to take care of business and is our main player that we are going to miss next year.”
Fourt admitted that it was a rough transition with a new head coach. The road became smooth as the season progressed and Fourt became grateful for the opportunity to learn new things about the game.
The Chargers lost a five-set thriller to Brownsville Pace in the first round of district, being outplayed. In the second round, Brownsville Veterans Memorial played the Vikings out of the gym, picking up a quick sweep and the district title.
Fourt was instrumental in that match and followed that up against McAllen Rowe in the bi-district round. That was Fourt’s first playoff win in her varsity career at Brownsville Veterans.
The senior credited the wins to the film room as well as the game planning the coaches and team worked on for important matches at the end of the season.
“This was my senior year, I wanted to go past the first round and to go see bigger teams and better competition,” Fourt said. “I feel like beating Nikki Rowe was not only a big accomplishment for me, but for my coach and my team.”
Fourt recently signed her letter of intent to join the UTRGV after only finding the sport in middle school.
“I am truly honored,” Fourt said. “I never knew realized that I would come to Vets, or club practice, that I would be putting in the work to play collegiate volleyball. It just all felt like fun to me, now all of a sudden, I am going to play DI volleyball.”