By KEVIN NARRO
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — With two matches remaining in the regular season, the race for the playoffs and the District 32-6A title is heating up.
Harlingen High and Harlingen South will meet for the final time in the regular season at noon today at Harlingen High.
Both squads enter the match with 2-6 records, but South got the best of Harlingen High earlier this season in a dramatic, five-set, come-from-behind win.
The Lady Cards were swept by Los Fresnos on Tuesday as the Lady Hawks earned a win against Brownsville Rivera, keeping them in the playoff mix.
Last year, Harlingen High met Brownsville Hanna in a play-in game but fell short in five sets.
That playoff-like atmosphere will come into play for a senior-heavy club.
“Absolutely, last year’s loss in our play-in game definitely motivates our girls,” Harlingen High coach Joslynn Torres said. “The girls who were in that situation last year don’t want to have that same feeling again, and we always remind them of that.”
A win from either team does not secure a playoff berth, but puts that team in the driver’s seat for potentially the fourth spot.
“The girls are super excited to have their last Bird Bowl on their home court,” Torres said. “Not only is it their last Bird Bowl, but it is possibly their final home game, but the girls are ready for the challenge and eager to get things done these final two games.”
Harlingen High would need to win out and have a Brownsville Rivera loss to San Benito to reach the playoffs. The Lady Cardinals travel to Rivera on Tuesday, when they potentially could clinch a playoff berth.
As for the Lady Hawks, the case is fairly simple, too: beat Harlingen High and have Rivera lose to put them in the fourth spot with one game to go.
Then, South would need a win over Hanna to clinch. If Rivera wins out as well, the race would then come down to a play-in game between Rivera and South for the final playoff spot.
“Tuesday’s win gave our girls confidence as we head into the final two games,” South coach Anissa Lucio said. “The first half of district was rough, but the girls are starting to peak and play well at the right time a year. They have been able to keep their composure and, really on both sides of the ball, they have improved, and it has been the difference for us.”