By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Los Fresnos and Rivera have emerged as co-leaders with 2-0 records in the District 32-6A volleyball race.
They’re on course to play each other Sept. 26 at Rivera.
Both teams won their district matches Tuesday in three games as Los Fresnos triumphed at home 25-14, 25-12, 26-24 against Harlingen South and Rivera won at Harlingen High 25-21, 25-15, 25-23.
In 32-6A’s other two matches Tuesday, it was San Benito defeating Weslaco East 25-16, 25-18, 25-10 and Hanna downing Weslaco High in three straight games.
Behind undefeated Rivera and Los Fresnos in the standings, all at 1-1, are Hanna, Harlingen High, San Benito and Weslaco High. At 0-2 are Weslaco East and South.
“This district is turning out to be everything I thought it would be,” said Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods, whose Lady Falcons are defending 32-6A champions. “It’s going to be a dogfight all the way through. It’s going to be a matter of whichever team is ready to win on any given night. When the other (district) teams play us, they all pick it up, so we have to be ready for that.”
At the start of the season in August, the Lady Falcons were missing some players due to injury. Woods said those players are all back now and thriving.
“We’re very deep on our bench,” she said. “I can sub two, four and six (players) at a time. That tells you my players are pretty equally matched. We’re going full force now.”
District action continues at noon Saturday with Weslaco East at Los Fresnos, Hanna at South, Harlingen High at Weslaco High and San Benito at Rivera.
32-5A UPDATE
Just like in 32-6A, teams in District 32-5A each have played two conference matches.
The only team winning in three games Tuesday was Brownsville Veterans Memorial defeating Mercedes 25-14, 25-21, 25-22 on the road.
Elsewhere Tuesday in 32-5A, it was Pace over Porter 23-25, 19-25, 25-16, 25-21, 15-8; Edcouch-Elsa over Donna High 25-17, 25-7, 17-25, 15-25, 15-9 and Lopez over Donna North 25-23, 24-26, 25-12, 25-19.
Pace coach Gavin Rudder said Porter has a difficult team to beat. He said it took quite an effort by his squad to come back and win after losing the first two games to the Cowgirls.
“They’re a scrappy team that never gives up,” Rudder said of Porter. “We changed our lineup and made some adjustments that helped us on defense and with our hitting and blocking.
“(Coming back to win like that) gives us more confidence going into our district match (at home) Saturday against Mercedes,” he added. “A boost in confidence was just what we needed.”
Leading the way for Pace was Stephanie Saenz, who was coming off an injury. She had 11 kills.
Besides Mercedes at Pace, other 32-5A matches at 1 p.m. Saturday include Lopez at Donna High and Porter at Donna North. The key match in the district at 4 p.m. Saturday finds Brownsville Veterans (2-0) at home against E-E (2-0).
LADY TARPONS UPDATE
Since losing their District 32-4A opener on Sept. 5, the Port Isabel Lady Tarpons have won two straight matches to stand 2-1 in conference play.
They won on the road Tuesday in a tight contest at Hidalgo 26-24, 21-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-12.
The Lady Tarpons next play host to La Feria at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess