It’s a big night for the two highest ranked volleyball teams in the Rio Grande Valley.
Two teams stand above McAllen High in the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association volleyball poll as the latest poll ranks the Bulldogs No. 3 in the state, one spot up from last week’s poll.
For the second straight week, five Rio Grande Valley teams were ranked in their specific classes — San Isidro (1A-2A), Mission Veterans (5A), Edcouch-Elsa (5A), Los Fresnos (6A) and McHi.
Byron Nelson remained the No. 1 team in Texas is Class 6A, followed by Flower Mound and then McHi. Los Fresnos dropped to a three-way tie for 25th with Ridge Point and El Paso Montwood.
The Bulldogs will face their stiffest test of the District 30-6A season as of this date at 7:30 tonight when they host cross-town rival McAllen Memorial in what is expected to be a standing-room only crowd.
The Mustangs are coming off a five-set victory over PSJA High on Saturday. McHi traveled to La Joya High and claimed a three-set win. The Bulldogs are on a 33-match winning streak following a five-set loss at Laredo Alexander, dropping the final set 15-13. Senior hitter Lexi Gonzalez is also closing in on McHi’s all time record for kills in a career. She goes into tonight’s game with 1,432 kills, 85 off the mark of 1,517.
Another big match tonight will be at Mission Veterans where a clash of two undefeated district squads will play beginning at 7 p.m. Sharyland Pioneer fell to the Patriots during the tournament portion of the season, dropping a four-setter to the Patriots during the Mission ISD tournament. The Patriots have not lost a district match in four-plus seasons, claiming the district title undefeated in those past four seasons. Mission Veterans is ranked No. 9 in Class 5A.
Edcouch-Elsa climbed to No. 16 in the 5A poll. The Yellow Jackets play tonight at 7 at Mercedes.
San Isidro remains firm at No. 21 in the 1A-2A poll and plays at 7 p.m. at San Perlita.