By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
LYFORD — It was two small schools that opened up the volleyball season in the Rio Grande Valley, and they brought big power to the court.
The District 32-1A San Isidro Lady Tigers defeated the District 31-3A Lyford Lady Bulldogs in four sets — 25-23, 25-19, 19-25, 25-20 — Tuesday at Lyford’s Memorial Gym. The Lady Tigers never got a break in their season opener as they played with just six girls on the roster, but they had the right amount of fight to finally start the season 1-0.
“This is our first game and, of course, we just started practicing as well, but both coach (Amy Cantu from Lyford) and I said it was a pretty good game,” San Isidro coach Elva Smith said. “I needed to find my niche, because I have a couple injured right now, so I had to move some to JV, which is why we had just six. I worried about them getting tired, but you know what? They’re strong and they pulled through. We conditioned, and this is where it came through.”
Lyford had a slow start to the night. During warmups, the girls and first-year coach Cantu could be heard saying, “Wake up, ladies.” The lack of energy carried into the first set, and San Isidro took advantage to take an early lead.
But behind the serving of Marlina Perez, the Lady Bulldogs fought back. Lyford opened a 21-14 lead before Smith called a good timeout to break the momentum. A good service run by San Isidro’s Mia Alvarado mixed with multiple calls of Lady Bulldogs in the net led to the Lady Tigers taking the opening set, 25-23.
San Isidro’s defense stole the show in Set 2. The Lady Tigers were communicating and covering the court well, and the offense took advantage of free balls sent over by Lyford due to timing issues between the setters and hitters to win the set 25-19.
Lyford came alive during the third set to stave off a sweep. Libero Hannah Garza was solid defensively, and her scrappy play mixed with the big front row of Perez, Clarisa Gonzalez, Haley Rodriguez and Sabrie Romo was the difference maker. Perez and Romo were effective blocking the plethora of weapons San Isidro setter Nicole Delgado had at her disposal, and the Lyford defense managed to slow down the hard-hitting Alvarado to take the set 25-19.
But Smith and her Lady Tigers made the necessary adjustments to put away the match. Despite the small roster causing some fatigue that led to a less effective back row defense, San Isidro found the will to win.
With Alvarado struggling late, Alex Garcia took over as a force in the middle and Roma Elizondo was strong hitting opposite. Communication issues and self-inflicted errors that plagued the Lady Bulldogs all night put them in a big hole in the deciding fourth set.
Another good service run, which was a common theme for both teams throughout the night, by Rodriguez helped Lyford fight off four match points. But an early nine-point hole was too much to overcome as the Lady Tigers earned the victory.
“It’s been a transition trying to get to gameday. I know they were very nervous because they haven’t been on the court and playing at their level, but throughout the season it’ll only go up from here,” Cantu said. “We have good hitters, for sure, but we just need to work on it. It’s an adjustment for myself and the girls as well. But they did great on their serves, which we’ve been working on. It’s going to be a good season.”