BY MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — To help build camaraderie, Juan Diego Academy coach Vic Garza imposed a rule to eliminate one of the more commonly used devices by athletes at any team-related function: headphones.
He didn’t want to see it in the locker room before or after matches, and he especially didn’t want players wearing it during bus rides.
By doing that, he said, “They get to converse with each other and get through the first layer of knowing each other and starting to care for each other. And by nature, they started growing together on the volleyball court.”
It’s hard to dispute that method, considering the Lady Lions’ fast ascension. Four years ago, the school opened in an isolated area within earshot of the border. And two years ago, the program became part of TAPPS 1A District 6.
This year, Juan Diego Academy (32-4, 8-0) won district and has reached the State TAPPS 1A Championships, where it faces San Antonio Gateway Christian (26-10-1) in the semifinals Friday at Coriscana.
“As a team, we’re every excited and pumped up,” sophomore outside hitter Paolina Camara said. “At the beginning of the year, our coach pushed us. He would tell us if we kept working hard, we’d get to the playoffs. But by the middle of the season, it wasn’t so much Coach as much as our will to win and wanting people to remember our name, even though we’re such a small school.”
The student enrollment has ballooned from 17 freshmen four years ago to 112 students today.
A fraction of those are part of a volleyball program that swept through Alamo Macedonian Christian, Brownsville First Baptist, Edinburg Harvest Christian and Palmhurst Faith Christian Academy in district this season.
The most encouraging of all wins came against Bellville Faith Academy on Saturday. The Lady Lions withstood a pesky Bellville squad to win 27-25, 25-9, 20-25, 9-25, 15-12, and secure their ticket to Coriscana.
“Even though we struggled in that third set, we really came together,” junior outside hitter Jasmine Long said. “We just needed teamwork and energy.”
Long and Camara have been a force in the front row. Garza describes Long as a “volleyball junky” and an extension of him on the court. Camara, also a solid hitter, contributes in a variety of ways for the Lady Lions.
The two have helped Juan Diego Academy make up for injuries earlier in the year. With them, the Lady Lions never missed a step, even without a single senior starting.
“I always knew we’d make a little bit of noise in the playoffs. I didn’t know we’d get to state, although I always told them to reach for the stars in reaching the state tournament,” Garza said.
At Coriscana, Garza’s keeping his message simple.
“I want them to enjoy it, to savor the moment,” Garza said. “We’ve come a long way. We want people to know we’re a hard-working team. We’re going to represent the Valley to the best of our ability. Even though we’re a 1A, we still take a lot of pride that we’re from here.”