LOS FRESNOS — Needing a win after getting swept on Saturday, the Los Fresnos Falcons were not given a gimme, next up, Brownsville Rivera.
On Tuesday, they hosted the Raiders, a team they swept in the first round of District 32-6A. The Falcons bested the Brownsville school again 25-19, 14-25, 25-22, 25-15.
“We needed that,” Los Fresnos head coach Anissa Lucio said. “Especially because of Saturday, we knew that we did not want to beat ourselves, that is going to be our biggest competitor, ourselves. So, I am glad about how they came through tonight.”
The pivotal set of the match was the third set.
After being overrun in the second set 14-25, the Falcons needed to respond in the third set. It did not look like they would. Rivera came out on fire again, generating offense from numerous players.
The Raiders were up 16-9 and on the verge of gaining a stranglehold not just on the match, but on the district as well.
“Rivera is a good team,” Lucio said. “You have to give props to them, they are a great team, really good defensively, they pushed us a lot. Give the credit to Rivera. For us, it was just us controlling us and making sure that we are still playing our game.”
Los Fresnos chipped away at the lead and tied the match at 19-19 courtesy of senior Dakota Martinez. The senior came up big for the Falcons down the stretch of the third set and Los Fresnos won the set 25-22.
“We were just very determined to win,” Martinez said. “It was a very important win. I believe it put us in a good place after the loss.”
Martinez finished off the match at the net after the Falcons controlled the fourth and final set.
“I am really glad where we are at,” Lucio said. “I am excited for their improvements and excited that my girls bounced back and they are strong mentally.”