By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
Ofelia Griffith can recall only one other time in her 14 years at Edcouch-Elsa that her team has battled through more injuries than they have already heading into their second district game of the year.
In 2007, the Lady Yellowjackets had four players sidelined in the middle of district, and the team went on to qualify for the playoffs nonetheless.
This time, E-E has two players out for the year. One other player is coming back from injury after getting hurt in non-district. And two others are getting acclimated after offseason surgery.
“It’s been one of those seasons,” Griffith said. “But I tell you what: I give it up to the girls. They’re hanging in there. It doesn’t affect them. Other times might want to throw in the towel, but they haven’t. They’re looking good, and we’ve played tough teams and they’re playing well.”
The Lady Yellowjackets are 14-11 overall and 1-0 in district heading into tonight’s game against host Donna High at 7 p.m.
Over the weekend, E-E had two starters undergo surgery. Freshman Meagan Acevedo, a setter specialist, underwent surgery to repair three ligaments in her knee. Defensive specialist Odessa Mata had her procedure to take care of a bone spur.
The ailments have led to varying lineups for Edcouch-Elsa. Griffith, however, said the players have drawn inspiration from players like Jackie Alvarado, Jackie De Los Santos and Alejandra Martinez.
Alvarado was the district’s libero of the year, and has bounced back from a pulled hamstring at a tournament in Laredo a couple weeks ago. De Los Santos had two surgeries on the same knee during the offseason stemming from soccer injuries, and she’s made a smooth transition back. And Martinez, who had surgery on her shoulder in January, has had a strong showing at middle blocker.
“They’re doing a great job of showing how they can come back,” Griffith said. “All you have to do is hang in there, you persevere and you build yourself up. For some reason, these injuries, whether they’re sport-related or other, it just seems to be one of those years. But that’s just what happens. You get thrown a curveball, and we’ve been thrown a few.”
RECORD YEAR
PSJA Southwest is going into its second district game of the season tonight, but already it can take solace in one thing: this marks its winningest season since the varsity program started in 2010.
The Lady Javelinas (15-10, 0-1 in district) have never won more than 15 games in a year. Last season, they came close, posting a 13-22 overall record (3-11 in district). They also recorded a series of first-time accomplishments, such as winning their season opener, beating teams like Zapata and La Feria and advancing to the championship match of the gold bracket in the Zapata Tournament.
They also recorded back-to-back wins over La Feria and Port Isabel in the gold bracket of the P.I. Tournament.
“Every year we’re getting better,” coach Jackie Olvera said. “We’re a new school, and the girls coming in are coming in with more experience. The team chemistry has never been more united than it is now.”
Though Southwest is young with four freshmen, it has excelled nonetheless with seniors Andrea Jimenez and Hannah Perez leading the way. Jimenez, a 6-foot middle blocker, is the captain of the team and has made her presence with the manner in which she puts away balls and rallies her team. Perez, an outside hitter, has thrived in her role after initially serving and playing in the back row before taking on the outside hitter role last year.
In moving up to classifications to 31-6A, Olvera said the team has also benefitted from moving from a 4-2 set to a 6-2.
“With the 5As, we were able to get away with not having a right-side hitter because the game was slower,” Olvera said. “With the 6As, they’ll have their middle and outside camping on us because they know we have a middle and outside. So they’ll be waiting. But when we throw that right side out there, our setter can go outside and block or she can throw it down.
“That’s why we have to go 6-2 or we’ll get blocked all night. We won’t make their defense shift because we don’t have a right side. And those teams are quicker and their blocks are bigger. So we’ve had to make those adjustments.”
At 7 p.m. tonight, the Lady Javelinas resume district play when they travel to take on Edinburg North.
“We’re excited,” Olvera said. “We’ve never had crowds like we do now. The girls know what kind of team we have. They’re like, ‘Hey, it’s not like other years. We’re actually good, we’re actually OK.’ It’s just stepping up to the challenge and not being afraid.”
She added: “Nobody really expects anything from us, so it’s good to take people by surprise and be underdogs. It gives us more fire.”
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