Brownsville Veterans Memorial enters the new volleyball season with some momentum.
The Lady Chargers have captured district titles in three of the past four seasons, and with a solid group of returnees on hand for the 2017 campaign, things again are looking quite positive for the defending District 32-5A champions. They won district with a 14-0 mark a year ago.
The new season begins this week as a majority of Metro-area teams are playing in tournaments today through Saturday. Many teams played regular-season openers on Tuesday.
Just like all other squads, the Lady Chargers are eager to find out what the 2017 season holds for them.
“I’m really excited to be back on the court with this group of girls, both the returning ones and the new faces we have,” said senior Rebecca Cardenas, a 5-foot-10 middle blocker and three-year member of the varsity squad. “It’ll be really fun and I hope a lot of people can go to our matches.
“Even though we were undefeated in district last year, I feel we still need to work really hard again to stay undefeated,” Cardenas added. “A lot of our girls know there were some struggles last year and we faced a lot of different things. This year, if we go through struggles, we’ll know how to fix them and keep winning as a team and not give up on what we want to accomplish.”
Also bolstering Brownsville Veterans’ chances at the net is the presence of 5-10 senior middle blocker Bridget Himes, the 32-5A co-MVP last season.
“We do have a lot of people coming back (eight returnees, including seven seniors) and that helps with the connection we’ve made between each other before,” said Himes, also a three-year member of the varsity. “We’ve been there and know how it feels to be in the playoffs and we know we want to be there again. We also know we have to work hard with our new people coming in.
“It’s all in God’s hands,” she added. “I think communicating and supporting one another will help us along the way.”
Besides Himes and Cardenas, an all-district second-teamer last year, other returnees for the Lady Chargers include Cassie Valdez, Kasandra Jimenez, Mariela Angeles, Briana Estrada, Cynthia Garcia and Pamela Sanchez. Valdez was the setter of the year in 32-5A last season while Garcia was the 32-5A newcomer of the year. Jimenez and Sanchez also received all-district honors.
“The players are excited about the season and I told them to come up with a motto about what we want this year,” said Lady Chargers coach Lisa Mares, now in her eighth season guiding the team. “They came up with ‘It’s All About the Hype’ because they’re excited, it’s their last year and they want to leave it all on the court (and show the hype is justified). They want to go out as seniors with no regrets.
“(Because of our returning talent) I really don’t have to fill a lot of the positions,” she added. “That’s one of the positives. I just basically have to replace the three people from my defense of last year that have graduated. There are a few spots to fill, but I really like the fact that we already have experience in a lot of the important positions. That’s a big plus for us.”
Newcomers who could make an impact include a pair of juniors — setter Aylinn de la Cruz and front-row player Frida Rangel.
“We’re arriving (to the season) very well,” said Valdez, a two-year member of the varsity. “We’re working hard because we want to get better. We know teams are going to try to beat us, but we have a lot we want to achieve. The energy and vibes are really good with this team.”
Here is a brief look at each of the other teams in the Metro-area:
RIVERA LADY RAIDERS
Virtually the entire squad from last year is returning and that makes the Lady Raiders one of the favorites in District 32-6A as they finished second behind Los Fresnos last season.
“This team has experience, the girls are playing together and I think it’s a strong team,” said veteran Rivera coach Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra, who is approaching 500 victories for her coaching career. “We’ve been building toward this season for the past two or three years.”
The Lady Raiders’ experienced group includes Litzy Medina, Mayra Martinez, Stephanie Garza, Valery Uresti, Kourtney Shears, Kaylyn Samano, Martha Ramirez, Claudia De La Garza, Victoria Zuniga, Maddie Blanco and Norma Garcia.
In 2016, Shears was the 32-6A setter of the year, Garza was the 32-6A offensive player of the year and Blanco was one of three 32-6A newcomers of the year. Medina and Zuniga were also all-district honorees.
“We just need to stay united and healthy, and I think we will,” Avelar-Guerra said.
LOS FRESNOS LADY FALCONS
The defending 32-6A champion Lady Falcons may not have quite the height of recent seasons, but there is no lack of hustle and athleticism on the 2017 squad. The new group is well aware of Los Fresnos’ winning tradition under longtime coach Becky Woods, an RGV Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 2016, and the girls want to do their part in living up to it.
It’s a group that has been together since eighth grade and plays hard all the time, Woods said.
“They can hit and move around to cover spaces very well,” the Lady Falcons coach said. “We’re not that big, but these girls can get the job done. They have a lot of heart.”
Two standouts back are libero Isis Delgado, last season’s 32-6A defensive player of the year, and outside hitter Giselle Ibarra, an all-district first-teamer.
Other players to watch include Hope Trevino, Natalie Leal, Sandra Salazar, Hannah Castillo, Sarah Villarreal, JoJo Adame, Itzy Zapata, Emma Stumbaugh, Kaitlan Villarreal and Gaby Cuevas.
HANNA LADY GOLDEN EAGLES
The Lady Eagles welcome back a solid group of players who were on Hanna’s playoff team out of 32-6A a year ago.
They include five players with starting experience — Ryann Wood, Xitlali Montes de Oca, Ely Perez, Tabitha Fernandez and Melina Morales. Other players with experience who figure to contribute are Nataly Davila, Ariana Arceneaux, Tamara Guerrero, Isabella Tatum and Salone McManus. Montes de Oca, Wood, Morales and Fernandez are past all-district honorees.
There are some newcomers who could make an immediate impact as well.
“Having gotten the fundamentals down, our players are advanced and we’re able to work on advanced techniques again,” said Hanna coach Ansgar Hagemann, now in his eighth season leading the team. “We need to improve our team defense and keep everyone healthy. We’ve had a three-year run in the playoffs and we’re still hungry for more.”
PACE LADY VIKINGS
Gavin Rudder begins his fifth season directing the Pace program. The Lady Vikings opened the season on Aug. 1 with a “Midnight Madness” practice session for the fourth straight year that attracted 52 participants.
“This group is very close and they all get along very well,” Rudder said. “They know each other on the court really well. This is probably the most cohesive team I’ve had (at Pace). Everyone on this team is pretty well-rounded. Everyone can play multiple positions.
“There’s not a super star, rather we’ve got a group of players who work together real well,” he added. “I think that’s better than having just one superstar. They can do all jobs that are given them.”
The returning corps of seven players includes Stephanie Saenz, Alexis Arce, Jade Rodriguez, Amanda Gomez, Rosa Salinas, Sophia Espinoza and Kimberly Villarreal. Saenz and Gomez were 32-5A all-district honorees a season ago.
A newcomer who could contribute is Abbi Rodriguez.
LOPEZ LADY LOBOS
Jacquelynn Touchet, the former Rivera and UTB-TSC player, is emerging as a successful coach now, having guided Lopez to the playoffs twice in the past three years.
The Lady Lobos have the makings of another team that could contend for a playoff spot. There are three returnees — setter Noemi Gallardo, outside hitter Jenny Cisneros and middle blocker Carla Lopez.
Lopez, who figures to be one of 32-5A’s top hitters, and Gallardo earned all-district recognition last season.
“I’m eager to see what this season has in store for us,” Touchet said. “The team has been working hard during the offseason and summer.
“Although they may be young, there is a lot of talent and potential for this season,” she added. “I am excited to see their hard work transfer over to success in district play.”
PORTER COWGIRLS
The Cowgirls displayed some solid play in 32-5A last season during Ariel Arredondo’s first season as their coach. There were spirited and momentum-building conference victories against Pace and Donna North during the first round of district.
The Cowgirls will attempt to improve upon their past accomplishments and become even more of a factor this season in the 32-5A race.
PORT ISABEL LADY TARPONS
The Lady Tarpons experienced a rare season out of the playoffs in 2016. It was the first time in Julie Breedlove’s four seasons as the team’s coach that she didn’t get her girls into the postseason.
“Last season was on me,” Breedlove said. “I’ve been looking at what I can do better this year to get the team back on top. Our goal is to get back to the playoffs (out of District 32-4A). This will be the first year since I’ve been here that we’ll have freshmen joining us (on the varsity).”
Incoming freshmen include Jane Christensen, Allison Gonzalez and Samantha Chapa.
Returning players are Olivia Soliz, Carolina Guevara, Tylynn Jee and Celia Garza. Soliz, Guevara and Garza each earned all-district recognition last season.
ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY LADY BLOODHOUNDS
Varsity volleyball is being played at St. Joseph Academy for the first time this season. Dolores Olguin-Trevino, with previous stints at Hanna and Los Fresnos, is the coach.
“Our journey has begun and the girls are excited and determined to make it the best they can,” she said. “They are working hard to be as prepared as possible for varsity competition, and so far, they are getting better.
“Our goal is to have a group of girls that will get on the court to create a competitive team,” Olguin-Trevino added. “For the most part, the team will be comprised of a mixture of freshmen through seniors. Since we don’t have the luxury of having large classes, we have to pull from all high school grades. I am trying to fit the players into proper positions, and will continue to do so, until I find the magic six to eight players that work together the best.”
Two seniors who are expected to be important contributors are Milandra Bossolo and Lesly de la Llata. Others who figure to help out include Ally Stachowiak, Victoria Gonzalez and Halima Dervisevic, who is a freshman.
IDEA FRONTIER LADY CHARGERS
Experienced athletes back for the Lady Chargers are all-around player Selma Villarreal, middle hitter Trisha Silva, outside/middle hitter Amber Castillo and defensive specialist/libero Kayla Sanchez.
The District 32-3A team has a new setter in Stephanie Leal.
“My expectations for the season are to have the underclassmen get more varsity experience,” IDEA Frontier coach Cassie Hinojosa said. “This is our rebuilding year because I will be losing my three key players next year. Hopefully my key players this year will pass on their experience and knowledge to the younger group of girls.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess