By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Regina Tijerina’s one season of playing volleyball at Brownsville’s Jubilee charter school was enough to convince her to take her game to the next level.
Earlier this year, Tijerina attended a Laredo Community College tryout, impressed the coaches and earned a scholarship.
The senior all-around player realized the next step of her future Tuesday as she signed an athletic scholarship agreement with the Palominos, who play in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
The Jubilee student body and the school’s teachers, coaches and administrators were present for the signing ceremony in the gym along with Tijerina’s family members.
“I’m very excited and happy (for this day to arrive),” said Tijerina, who began playing her sport at age 13. “(Through volleyball) I’ve learned to be disciplined as a person and to keep pushing myself more and more.
“I’ve had a lot of support here (at Jubilee) as a student and as an athlete,” added the volleyball standout, who plans to study kinesiology in college with the intent of one day coaching her sport. “I’m going to college with a lot of enthusiasm to do well in my sport and to do well in my studies.”
Jubilee plays in the Texas Charter School Academic & Athletic League. The Titans advanced to the TCSAAL state semifinals in volleyball last fall at Georgetown before finishing with a 29-2 record.
Even though she played only one season for Jubilee, Tijerina, who has club experience as well, became the team’s top player in 2017, earning MVP honors at the district and regional levels while being chosen first-team all-state. She also was chosen all-state academically.
Tijerina impressed Lester Shears, her volleyball coach.
“Regina is a tremendous athlete,” Shears said. “She’s been here at Jubilee for four years and this was the first year she participated in the program. I’ve known her for a couple of years (through club volleyball). I approached her and said, ‘Let’s see what you can do here (at Jubilee),’ and she came out for the team. Her mind is always going (to set up the next play). She’s a player who is hard on herself and leads by example.
“She never points a finger at anyone because that’s just not her personality,” Shears added. “She’s a left-side hitter who can play anywhere, so I would say she’s an all-around player. I think at the next level she’ll probably play defensive specialist. Regina’s jump serve is out of this world. She led the district and the state with her ace percentages. She is just an amazing player and she has younger sisters (Valentina and Carmina) who follow her lead. They’ve worked out with us.
“Regina is very coachable and she’s going to do great at the next level. I’d put her stats up against anybody in UIL.”
Perhaps Robert Lopez, Jubilee’s strength and conditioning coach, best summed up the celebratory mood of Tuesday’s event when he was handed the microphone during the signing ceremony and told Tijerina, “Don’t ever forget us (here at Jubilee) because we’ll never forget you.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess