By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
PROGRESO — A week before practice was set to get under way, Progreso’s coach resigned.
Jacquie Gonzalez, who went on to take over the program, sensed her players were feeling down on themselves. A non-district matchup against a Class 6A program in La Joya High, two classifications higher than Progreso, did not help improve for the Lady Red Ants’ spirit.
Gonzalez, however, saw it as an opportunity to empower her 4A team.
“Because of what happened, they felt they had a bad hand,” Gonzalez said of her players. “They were so used to being at the bottom that when they saw La Joya on the schedule, they were like, ‘Aw, we’re playing a 6A school.’ And I said, ‘No, get that out of your head. You’re able to compete with a 6A.’”
Even though it was one of several non-district matches for Progreso, Gonzalez regarded it as the single-most important moment this year for the Lady Red Ants, who have clinched a playoff berth for the first time in 10 years.
“It boosted their confidence to the max,” Gonzalez said. “It was that game that turned it all around. It showed them that they could stick with whoever, whether it’s 5As or 6As.”
At 9-3 in district with only two matches remaining, the Lady Red Ants are looking ahead to playoff seeding. Its last two games, against La Feria and Raymondville, resulted in losses, dropping Progreso from first place to third. Now, it can only hope for a split of the district title, at best, considering it beat those programs in the first round of its 32-4A schedule.
Still, players are encouraged by their 28-7 overall record, including 17-3 before starting district. They point to their five-set win at La Joya High as the reason why the team has remained upbeat, despite some setbacks this year. It marks a significant step in the program, which had seen some dropoff in participation recently.
Discouraged by the mood surrounding the program, Samantha Vela, a senior middle blocker, quit last year before rejoining the team after Gonzalez was promoted from the JV squad to take over as the head varsity coach.
“I think we’re all connecting a lot better,” said Vela, the team’s leader in blocks. “Last year I played but I got out because the attitude was different. … And this year I decided to join again because it was more positive. We’re all communicating on and off the court, and Coach is really motivating us.”
Vela’s return has helped lift a team that lost some key players at outside hitter and libero, after sustaining injuries that have kept them off the court for the majority of the season. Senior Ari Jalomo has done her part to keep the team’s spirits high. The four-year letterman is not only the team’s captain, but also its leader in kills, assists and digs.
Jalomo, who has played the sport since age 5, also leads the team in hitting percentage. When she’s not playing as an outside hitter, Jalomo serves as a setter in the Lady Red Ants’ 5-2 rotation.
“She’s really good,” Vela said. “She’s not only a great hitter, but she plays smart. She knows where to place the ball. She knows the other team’s weaknesses. I honestly think she’s what keeps us together, because she’s a great leader and motivator.”
Jalomo’s drive stems from many things — from wanting to change the perception of the team this year to leaving a lasting legacy. For as long as she has been at Progreso, the volleyball team has been viewed as something of a doormat. This year, that’s changed.
“When the teams would see us, it was, ‘Oh, it’s Progreso.’ People expected us to lose,” Jalomo said. “But our attitudes are super positive.”
Competing in summer leagues the past couple of years has helped exposed Progreso to teams it normally wouldn’t face throughout the course of the season, Gonzalez said. It gave the Lady Red Ants a glimpse into different styles of attack, with stronger hitters, while also allowing the newcomers to get acclimated with their varsity teammates.
“Playing in the summer really helped with chemistry,” Jalomo said. “You’re working on communication — ‘mine,’ ‘yours,’ ‘tip,’ ‘hit’ — and that’s the main key. Every year we’ve been improving so much. So hopefully after we graduate, we’re able to leave some steps behind where the girls could say, ‘Last year we made the playoffs, and we have to do the same this year.’
“We want people to say, ‘Oh, that’s Progreso. They have a spot in the playoffs already.’ We want to leave behind that winning mentality.”