RGVSPORTS.COM
Mayda Garcia had 15 kills and Vanessa Lopez added 38 assists as McAllen Rowe defeated visiting Laredo LBJ 25-15, 25-7, 25-18 in the Class 6A bi-district playoffs Tuesday.
Garcia, the reigning RGVSports.com All-Valley Volleyball Player of the Year, added 22 digs, five blocks, two aces and two assists as the Lady Warriors (39-8) advance to the area round, where they will take on Edinburg High.
Rowe coach Magda Canales credited her team’s defensive schemes — a rotation set and a perimeter set — in helping them fend off Laredo LBJ’s attack.
“We were able to adjust and that made the difference in the end,” she said. “We saw a few openings that worked to our advantage. The setters had been working with the hitters, trying to make sure the game plan would work, and it paid off.”
Sophia Luna chipped in with eight kills, seven digs and three blocks. Ryela Rodriguez contributed six kills, four digs and six blocks.
EDINBURG NORTH 3, SAN BENITO 0: At Edinburg, Victoria Rodgers had 11 kills, 14 digs, two aces and two blocks to carry the Lady Cougars to a 25-15, 25-9, 25-18 victory at home.
Lizeth Cavazos posted nine kills, four blocks and one dig, and Abri Saenz added 37 digs, two kills and two aces for Edinburg North (31-11), which will take on McAllen Memorial in the area round.
“We had a little bit of a lull there (early in the season), but I think we’re beginning to peak,” North coach Adrian Cavazos said. “I think we’re playing a lot better, and right now is the right time to be doing that.
“We’ve been playing really good defense. The girls have been making really good passes, running multiples on offense, and we’ve been able to make the reads.”
McALLEN MEMORIAL 3, DEL RIO 1: At Laredo, Draik Banks delivered 21 kills and six blocks, and Lanie Nitsch added 18 kills and two blocks, as the Lady Mustangs ran away with a 25-17, 23-25, 25-16, 25-20 win at Texas A&M International University.
Taylor Marburger doled out 52 assists to go with nine digs, and Jocelyn Everage had nine kills, nine digs and two aces for Memorial, which faces Edinburg North in the next round.
LAREDO UNITED 3, MISSION HIGH 0: At Roma, the Lady Eagles saw their season end in the first round for the second time in two years.
Mission finished with a 17-20 overall record.
CLASS 5A
MISSION VETERANS MEMORIAL 3, BROWNSVILLE PACE 0: At Brownsville, Gabby Lerma posted 18 kills and Daisy Reyna added 16 as the Lady Patriots cruised to a 25-8, 25-7, 25-16 victory.
D.D. Ibarra notched 24 kills, four aces, four digs and a block, and Lerma added 25 digs, as Mission Veterans (36-3) advances to the area round.
“It was just an overall great team effort,” interim coach Vivian Ray said. “The girls have a goal they want to achieve, and this is the first step.”
The Lady Patriots will await the winner of Calallen-Medina Valley.
“Right now, our kids are just hungry,” Ray said. “Our offense was on. I wouldn’t say it was perfect, but it was beautiful. And our defense was really scrappy.”