By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Alexandria Martinez is the kind of standout volleyball player every team would like to have in its lineup.
Martinez, Port Isabel’s team captain, is a 5-foot-4 senior libero and a two-year starter who has been a member of the varsity since her freshman season.
The 2015 Lady Tarpons are a squad with several underclassman newcomers, particularly at the net, and Martinez has become a stabilizing influence on the court as the team seeks to return to the playoffs in District 32-4A.
“Alex is kind of a little sparkplug for us,” Lady Tarpons coach Julie Breedlove said. “She plays in our back row and controls things back there. She’s a go-getter. We’re real young this season and a little inexperienced, and she’s very positive out there. Alex has been really instrumental in keeping the girls upbeat during the match and ready to play all the time.
“The girls feel comfortable with her because when they make a mistake, she is very positive with them about it,” Breedlove added. “She doesn’t get down on them or herself. Alex has just brought a lot to us this season, and I think the lack of (varsity) experience of these younger girls and getting to play with her has meant a lot to them.”
The Lady Tarpons are in third place in 32-4A with a 6-3 record behind Zapata (9-0) and La Feria (8-1). Those three teams shared the 32-4A title last season.
Port Isabel is coming off Saturday’s 25-17, 18-25, 25-22, 25-20 victory against Rio Hondo and next plays at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Raymondville.
“We’re still learning, and we have a lot of potential,” Martinez said. “Little by little, every practice we’re getting better and stronger. We have the height, we have the speed (to cover the court) and we have pretty much everything we need. We just have to work together as a team, and we are. We’re getting better at it.
“I feel like it’s my job to help the girls as much as I can and help boost their confidence,” she added. “We have some young players, which is good because they have a lot more time to play ahead of them. They tend to get down when they mess up, so I try to raise up their confidence by letting them know what they should fix and how to do it. They get it right the next time, and they feel better. I can see a lot playing in the back, so I feel like my role is to help out (in that way).”
Playing in the back row as a libero is both a pleasure and a challenge, Martinez said. She enjoys chasing down balls, making a dig and starting the process of setting up a kill for her team.
“I love the back row. It’s fun diving for balls, trying to save them as much as you can and throwing your body out there,” she said. “You do everything you can to get that ball back in play. To me, that’s the best part. It’s a good feeling (to make plays like that).”
Martinez is a multi-sport participant who also competes in basketball, track and softball. She said her mother, Marta, has been a driving force behind her involvement in sports since she started youth track at age 5. She said her coaches and friends have been an important influence as well.
It’s a credit to the standout libero that she’s rebounded from an ACL injury during her sophomore year.
“With the team we have now, I think we can go far in the playoffs, and that would be amazing,” said Martinez, who upon graduation is thinking of attending Texas State University and studying kinesiology. “I’m excited for it. We’re going to keep fighting and working as a team because we’re like a family that helps each other in and outside of school.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.