ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Volleyball conference openers during the past weekend in Districts 32-6A and 32-5A included some all-Brownsville matchups.
In 32-6A, Hanna captured a 25-22, 25-23, 25-20 victory against Rivera to start off district 1-0.
“It feels good to be 1-0 since I would say we’re underdogs in the district,” Hanna coach Ansgar Hagemann said. “It’s a completely new team for us. There’s one starter back and another player who came off the bench last season.
“From what I have seen, we’re all pretty much even (in 32-6A),” he added. “I think there’s going to be some long game days (with quite a few highly competitive, drawn-out matches).”
Hagemann said his team is being sparked thus far by four hitters. They are Haley Penrod, Xitlali Montes de Oca, Lauren Webb and Ryan Wood.
The Lady Golden Eagles continue 32-6A competition Tuesday at Weslaco High.
In other 32-6A openers, also on Saturday, Los Fresnos defeated San Benito 25-20, 21-25, 26-24, 25-14; Harlingen High downed Harlingen South 25—19, 26-24, 25-18 and Weslaco High beat Weslaco East 25-21, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19.
“We don’t have the blocking we’ve had in the past, so we have to rely on better defense,” said Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods, whose defending district champion Lady Falcons have seven sophomores on their roster. “That’s what it took to get past San Benito. It could have gone either way. San Benito has some good players, but we had the momentum at the end (to win).”
DISTRICT 32-5A: There were two all-Brownsville matches in 32-5A Saturday as that district also began conference action.
Lopez defeated Porter 25-12, 25-21, 25-21 and Brownsville Veterans Memorial topped Pace 25-15, 25-10, 25-12. Lopez and Veterans Memorial are the two new additions to 32-5A this school year as PSJA High and PSJA Southwest exited and moved up to District 31-6A.
“I think it is tougher (in our district this year) with the addition of Veterans,” said Pace coach Gavin Rudder, whose squad is coming off a playoff season. “It is going to take a lot of hard work and commitment from our girls if they want to get into the top four (and reach the postseason again).”
Lopez coach Jackie Touchet said two standouts for her team in Saturday’s win were senior middle blocker Anna Morales and sophomore setter Noemi Gallardo.
In other 32-5A openers Saturday, Edcouch-Elsa downed Donna North 25-16, 25-19, 25-17 and Donna High defeated Mercedes 25-15, 25-6, 25-13.
UPCOMING: Besides Hanna at Weslaco High, other matches Tuesday on the 32-6A schedule find Los Fresnos at Harlingen South, Harlingen High at Rivera and Weslaco East at San Benito.
In 32-5A Tuesday, it’s Pace at Porter, Mercedes at Veterans Memorial, Lopez at Donna North and E-E at Donna High.
Also, in District 32-4A Tuesday, it’s Port Isabel (0-2 district) at home against Hidalgo.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess