By ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald
District 32-6A volleyball teams came close to pulling off a sweep in the Class 6A bi-district playoffs earlier this week.
The 32-6A squads triumphed in three of four matches Monday and Tuesday against their District 31-6A counterparts as Rivera, Los Fresnos and San Benito emerged on the winning end of things and Hanna came up short.
Los Fresnos is accustomed to advancing beyond bi-district competition nearly every year, and the Lady Falcons are eager for what comes next.
“We’re a family and we’re all excited to be in the second round,” said Los Fresnos’ Giselle Ibarra, a senior outside hitter. “I love my team. We all play for God and we’re ready.”
Added teammate Emma Stambaugh, a junior outside hitter, “We know every match is up to us and how we do. It’s not what happened in the past (if we’ve played a team before), it’s the present that counts. We just need to work hard and focus on the match that we’re playing. We’ve worked very hard for this and we’re ready to offer tough competition (to our playoff opponents).”
In bi-district, Los Fresnos defeated Edinburg High 25-17, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22; Rivera downed Edinburg North 27-25, 25-19, 25-22; and San Benito triumphed over Edinburg Vela 25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 25-20.
Hanna put up quite a strong effort, especially in the third and fourth games, but eventually fell to 31-6A champion PSJA Memorial 25-20, 25-21, 14-25, 25-20.
Now it’s on to the area round of the playoffs.
District 32-6A runner-up Los Fresnos (27-11) plays District 29-6A champion Laredo United (30-5) at 7 p.m. today at Corpus Christi Ray.
Rivera (29-10), the 32-6A champion, goes against 30-6A runner-up Laredo Alexander (22-12) at 7 p.m. Friday in Rio Grande City.
Also, San Benito (27-10), the 32-6A third-place team, goes against District 30-6A champion McAllen Rowe (33-7) at noon Saturday at the Lady Greyhounds’ gym.
32-5A TEAMS SWEPT
District 32-5A teams were all eliminated in the Class 5A bi-district action earlier this week.
Brownsville Veterans Memorial, the 32-5A champion, lost to District 31-5A fourth-place Sharyland High in a bit of a surprise result 25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-12, while Lopez, the 32-5A fourth-place playoff qualifier, was ousted 25-9, 25-14, 25-16 by 31-5A champion Mission Veterans, the Valley’s top-ranked team.
Edcouch-Elsa and Donna High, the other two playoff qualifiers from 32-5A, were eliminated in bi-district by 31-5A’s Sharyland Pioneer and Laredo Nixon, respectively.
SEASON OVER
Port Isabel achieved its goal of returning to the playoffs this season after missing out on the postseason last year, but the Lady Tarpons ran into a tough West Oso squad on Tuesday in the Class 4A bi-district playoffs.
West Oso eliminated Port Isabel 25-16, 25-18, 18-25, 25-21. The match was played in Riviera.
The Lady Tarpons finished third in District 32-4A this year, while West Oso was the District 31-4A runner-up.
Also from 32-4A, district champion La Feria advanced to the 4A area round, but Raymondville and Rio Hondo were eliminated.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess