By KEVIN NARRO
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — The Bird Bowl never disappoints.
In front of a packed crowd divided by orange and red, Harlingen High and Harlingen South entered their match with playoff implications on the line.
Junior Mikela Mireles powered the offense with a team-high 24-kill performance and added with 14 digs to help South sweep its rival 25-23, 25-21, 25-12 on Saturday.
South took control of each game, setting the tone early behind Mireles. Mya Aguirre had quite the outing, with 14 kills, 16 digs and 13 assists. Zoe Garcia finished with a team-high 30 digs, Dolores Mendoza notched 21 assists, and Evelyn Yanez had 28 digs.
“This is really exciting, we are feeling so many emotions, but now we need to focus on Hanna,” Aguirre said. “Coach wanted us to play with confidence, and we have been doing that in the second half of district and it has helped us to get to where we are now.”
The win puts the Lady Hawks right in the thick of a crowded district race. After Saturday’s matches, San Benito, Brownsville Rivera and South are tied with 3-6 records heading into the regular-season finales Tuesday.
“We just needed to get hot at the right time, and that is what we are doing,” South coach Anissa Lucio said. “We are peaking at the right time, and I believe this is the best game we have played all year. Yes, we can fine-tune some things, but this is the best our girls have played, I’m proud of them.”
Harlingen South will next play host to Hanna, Rivera will be home against Harlingen High and Los Fresnos will travel to San Benito.
With one regular season match remaining, the Lady Hawks are in control of their own destiny. A win Tuesday and a San Benito or Rivera loss will lock up a playoff spot for South.
“Heading into that third set, I wanted the girls to stay focused and relaxed,” Lucio said. “I wanted our girls to just keep playing, and that is what they did. We have been feeling good since the second half of district, and we are in control of our own destiny.”
If San Benito, South and Rivera were to lose Tuesday, it would set up a three-way tie. San Bentio would get the third seed due to head-to-head matchups, and Rivera will take on South in a play-in game for the fourth seed.
If all three teams win Tuesday, the same scenario will happen, with Rivera and South meeting in a play-in game.
One other scenario could be a possible four-way tie for third and fourth place if Harlingen High beats Rivera and San Benito and South lose.
“We kept our focus and we are peaking at the right time,” Mireles said. “We want to finish strong and make the playoffs.”