GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McAllen Memorial took Game 1 of its Class 6A regional semifinal match against San Antonio O’Connor but ultimately fell 22-25, 25-14, 25-15, 24-26, 15-12 on Friday in San Antonio.
Coach Lorena Lopez said the Lady Mustangs were able to catch the Lady Panthers off guard with a fast-paced attack to middles Lanie Nitsch and Draik Banks.
“The girls came out aggressive, and that was one of the things we talked about going in,” Lopez said. “We needed to get a jump on this match.”
O’Connor took control in the second and third games, and Lopez said the Lady Panthers’ defense was the biggest factor, forcing the Lady Mustangs into errors after long points.
A strong defensive effort brought Memorial back in the fourth set, but after a back-and-forth start to the fifth, O’Connor pulled away to secure the win and end the Lady Mustangs’ run.
“Of course they were upset and crying,” Lopez said. “’It’s understandable you’re upset. You worked hard, and you fought hard, and you came up short.’ But I told them to be proud of themselves.”
NEW BRAUNFELS CANYON 3, McALLEN ROWE 0: The Lady Warriors kept it close in every game but ultimately fell 25-23, 25-23, 26-24 in their Class 6A regional semifinal.
“They had very powerful hitters, and our blockers needed to have adjusted a little bit sooner in the game,” Rowe coach Magda Canales said. “We struggled, but at the same time, the game was back and forth, back and forth, with either team having no more than a 3-point run or a 4-point run at any given time.”
Canales said Rowe lost a few points to tight officiating in the setting game and also had to make an adjustment after losing libero Kayla Cruz to injury during the second set. Sophie Luna and Amanda Martinez managed to fill the void, Canales said.
“It took us a little while to adjust, but these girls stepped it up,” Canales said. “They saw the need, and we just kept fighting. It’s just that tonight, we met a more powerful team.”
Canales said seniors Luna, Ryela Rodriguez and reigning All-Valley Player of the Year Mayda Garcia were Rowe’s standouts on Friday.
“I told the girls that I was very proud of their accomplishments,” Canales said. “This was something the seniors had set their mind to do and carried on to the rest of the team. I told them they were leaving a legacy for Nikki Rowe.”