STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
For several Rio Grande Valley athletes, the Volley at the Beach tournament in Port Isabel is among the annual reminders that the school year has begun.
Julie Breedlove, coach of the hosting Lady Tarpons, said she was pleased to have several teams returning to a field that features teams from all over the Rio Grande Valley, including Los Fresnos, Brownsville Hanna, and Brownsville Lopez. The tournament’s most distant entrant this year is Corpus Christi Carroll.
Port Isabel is in Pool 1 with Monte Alto, Weslaco East, and Lopez. Hanna is in Pool 2 alongside PSJA Southwest, Santa Rosa and Rio Hondo. Los Fresnos and Corpus Christi Carroll share Pool 3 with Progreso, La Feria, and St. Joseph Academy.
“We’re pretty excited about it this year,” Breedlove said.
Breedlove’s young squad will be one of the most interesting teams to watch, with nine returners from last season. The Lady Tarpons are focused on filling holes at middle hitter and a left outside hitter after the starters in those spots graduated.
“We have a bench right now of our varsity returners and a couple of our JV kids that we’re looking to step up next year,” Breedlove said. “But the girls coming back have been able to step in those positions and try to take hold of them.”
Port Isabel has mostly been working on finding the best positional fits for newcomers and returners alike, and several players will have an opportunity to make an impression with two senior captains — libero Estrella Vasquez and outside hitter Galilea Cab — and another returning sophomore sidelined for the tournament after minor injuries during the Poundfest tournament at McAllen Rowe.
“We’re just trying to get the kids to gel a little bit more,” Breedlove said. “And to get a look at those younger players in some of those roles and find them opportunities.”
Breedlove said junior Alison Gonzalez has emerged as a leader entering her third season with the Lady Tarpons.
“I’ve been impressed with her play coming back,” Breedlove said. “She’s really wanted to do more and get better, and I think it’s a neat thing.”
The Tarpons open pool play today at 1 p.m.