Sharyland High, ranked at one point last season in the state, ended up the odd team out when the postseason arrived.
That’s how competitive District 31-5A was last season, with five teams ranked at one point or another.
It’s not gonna be any easier this season after redistricting moved District 31-6A’sEdinburg Vela into the “Merciless District.”
Teams across the Valley took to the courts Monday as coaches got an official first glimpse with starting scrimmages this week and tournaments next week.
McAllen Memorial, one of the favorites this year in District 31-5A, actually started the day off on the track.
The Mustangs finished 11-3 and in second in district, twice falling to district champion Sharyland Pioneer and once to McAllen High. However, Pioneer, McHi and McAllen Rowe lost about 25 seniors to graduation, so there will be a lot of new faces.
Not so many newbies for Memorial, which returns standout hitters Amare Hernandez, Leah Garcia and Madisyn Sosa, among others.
“I had a lot of girls in the gym and working hard. That was very nice to see,” Memorial fourth-year head coach Ashley Doffing said. “Last year we were in one of the toughest in the valley and they doubled down.
“But it helps us prepare for playoffs. Valley teams are overlooked but now we are having big games all the time and it will help us. Some very good team will not make the playoffs in our district this year.”
Another veteran squad is Sharyland High, led by The Monitor’s All-Area Volleyball Newcomer of the Year, Kenisha Martinez. The Rattlers were 7-7 in district but 30-14 overall and defeated a state-ranked Corpus Christi Flour Bluff squad early in the season. Sharyland returns all six starters.
Sharyland High head coach Raul Castillo said the district will come down to who wants it the most, in areas like the mental game. His squad and Memorial faced off in club play a few times during the summer.
“Memorial is basically the same team and they are solid again,” Castillo said. “We both have big hitters and big defenders. We won some and they win some.”
But, even though McHi, Rowe and Pioneer lost much experience, Castillo said they can never be counted out.
“Those teams never rebuild and it’s nice for us to feel what’s that like this year,” the ninth-year coach said. “Sure they lost a lot of experience, but they also have a lot of skills and talent coming in always.”
Sharyland and the three McAllen school will scrimmage beginning at 9 a.m. Friday at McAllen Memorial for an early glimpse of what should be a highly intense season and race to the postseason.
Vela, which finished 12-3 last year and third in district, also has a solid group of returning starters.
Harlingen High is looking to defend its District 32-6A title after dropping just one match in district. The Cardinals are led by game-changing hitter Juli Bryant and will see some challenges from a tall Los Fresnos squad and Brownsville Rivera.