ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Jasmin Garcia picked an ideal time to shine as a volleyball player.
A 5-foot-11 senior middle blocker, Garcia was the primary offensive and defensive force at the net for the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons as they repeated as District 32-6A champions and recorded a 36-9 season record with a trip to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. They won 32-6A with a 10-0 mark.
Garcia is The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Most Valuable Player in volleyball for 2019.
The All-Metro area includes Brownsville, Los Fresnos and Port Isabel.
As a junior, Garcia contributed off the bench to the Lady Falcons’ district championship season. Elevated to the starting lineup, her senior year became even better.
She finished her senior season with 489 kills and 176 blocks along with 79 digs.
“Jasmin was a force in the middle for us,” said Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods, who is the All-Metro coach of the year. “If she was given a good set, we knew she would put it down (for a kill). It all had to do with teamwork. Everyone did her part, and Jasmin came through to score the point.”
Garcia said it was an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
“It was fun to be on this team,” Garcia said. “We were a new team (playing together this season), and we came together to win every match (in district). It felt amazing to do something for the whole team. Everyone pitched in. What I learned this season is you can do a lot when you play as a team.”
The All-Metro MVP honor was a surprise for the Lady Falcons’ senior standout. Garcia said she did so well in volleyball this season she’s decided volleyball is now her favorite sport — not basketball — and is hoping to play volleyball in college.
“I’m actually pretty excited (about being the All-Metro MVP) because it’s something I really wasn’t expecting,” Garcia said. “It’s really not about me, though. It’s more about what you can do with teamwork and playing together. We came together as a team and accomplished a lot.”
Woods said Garcia was one of the newcomers in the starting lineup this season who was intent upon continuing Los Fresnos’ district championship tradition in volleyball.
“It was basically a brand new team this year because we graduated 10 seniors from the varsity the previous season,” the Lady Falcons coach said. “Jasmin was one of the new starters in the lineup. They knew they were good. They just had to put it together and play together. They were determined. They had to win back-to-back district titles.”
Woods believes Garcia’s best volleyball may be ahead of her if she plays in college judging by the way she improved as a player during her senior year.
“Yes, I feel she just started being more aggressive as a hitter when she became a senior,” Woods said. “Just think what she would’ve been like if she started hitting aggressively three years ago (as a freshman).
“(Now) she’s very explosive, and she knows right where she wants to put the ball,” Woods added.
The Brownsville Herald’s 2019 All-Metro Volleyball Team
Most Valuable Player
Jasmin Garcia, Los Fresnos
Offensive Player of the Year
Kenya Ibarra, Rivera
Defensive Player of the Year
Odalys Gonzalez, Hanna
Setter of the Year
Clarissa Esquibel, Los Fresnos; Clarissa Olivares, Rivera
Libero of the Year
Alexandra Parchmont, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Newcomer of the Year
Richelle Guerra, Rivera
Coach of the Year
Becky Woods, Los Fresnos
First Team
Tate Halford, Los Fresnos; Giovanna Godoy, Los Fresnos; Alondra Guzman, Rivera; Valentina Tijerina, Brownsville Jubilee; Ally Stachowiak, St. Joseph; Micaela Garcia, Porter; Vivian Lucio, Pace; Dominique Mena, Brownsville Veterans
Second Team
Rebekah Schlatter, Hanna; Caydence Castillo, Los Fresnos; Julissa Garza, Brownsville Jubilee; Alexis Robinson, Brownsville Jubilee; Monica Garcia, Brownsville Veterans; Mildred Verlage, St. Joseph; Azaneth Perez, Porter; Brenda Savariego, Lopez