BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — At this time last season, Edinburg North volleyball player Victoria Rogers was still working her way into the rotation. Now, as only a sophomore, Rogers has established herself as the Lady Cougars’ leader not just with her play, but with how she guides her older teammates.
Both sides of Rogers’ game were on full display Tuesday night, as she led Edinburg North with nine kills as the Lady Cougars beat Brownsville Rivera 25-16, 25-14, 25-10 in Edinburg.
“Last year I was a newcomer, and I was the underdog,” Rogers said. “Now, the second year, I have a little more confidence, and I know that I can do better.”
Coach Adrian Cavazos said Rogers entered the program under the radar, coming over from St. Joseph Catholic School.
She began the year on the freshman team, moved to JV for a couple of weeks and then came up to varsity, mostly to serve as a blocker on the right side because of her 5-foot-11 frame.
By the end of the season, she had proven herself a capable attacking threat, finishing fourth on the team in kills.
“I really enjoyed that season,” Rogers said. “It was game changing.”
Now in her second year on varsity, Rogers has moved to outside hitter and solidified herself as the Lady Cougars’ top attacking option. She’s also been playing on the back row for the first time in her high-school career, taking on a bigger role with digs and serve reception.
Still, the biggest change Cavazos and senior setter Ayissa Maldonado notice in Rogers is her maturity.
“Although she’s a sophomore, her mindset is maybe of a college volleyball player,” Maldonado said. “She’s more mature than most of the seniors, I can tell you that. She knows most of the skills. She’s an excellent player.”
Maldonado sees Rogers as a much physically stronger player than last season, particularly in her upper body. Maldonado also credited Rogers for her ability to adjust to misplaced sets and still make the best possible shot, whether it’s a tip or a full swing.
“She’s definitely gotten smarter on her placement,” Maldonado said. “If she sees lines open, she’ll tell me, ‘Push it out, and I’ll hit line.’”
Rogers said conversations like those have been a point of emphasis for her. Although she’s the only sophomore on a roster full of juniors and seniors, she’s tried to become a leader in the huddle. When Edinburg North was taking the court for the start of the second game on Tuesday, Rogers was the one who tried to energize her teammates, clapping and shouting “Woo!”
“All my life, in club season and in middle school, I’ve always been the youngest,” Rogers said. “I’ve always played with older people, so it doesn’t feel weird.”
Cavazos said that club play is one of Rogers’ biggest assets, giving her a leg up in game experience despite having fewer varsity reps. While she said taking charge of her teammates is still a work in progress, Cavazos has seen positive results so far.
“She’s one of our more spirited players,” Cavazos said. “She really gets after it. She tries to pick the girls up. She’s more talkative than the other girls.
“You usually expect your older kids to take on that role, but she’s taken it on. And she does a pretty good job.”