By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
St. Joseph Academy just completed its first varsity season of volleyball with a 9-4 record.
The volleyball program at SJA began last year at the sub-varsity level under the guidance of veteran coach Dolores Olguin-Trevino. She previously coached the sport at Hanna and Los Fresnos.
“Since we weren’t in a district, we played anyone who would schedule a match with us,” Olguin-Trevino said. “The team members included six freshmen, three sophomores and two juniors. Five of the freshmen played last year in the first group of girls pioneering the start of volleyball at St. Joe. There is a good core group that has developed and will hopefully continue to grow and learn the game.
“My hope is that we will become competitive enough to play some of the bigger schools,” she added. “Volleyball is growing and thriving at St. Joseph Academy. Hopefully there will be more girls come out for the team.”
Members of the Lady Bloodhounds’ squad this season are Steffi Hunter, Tori Gonzalez, Ally Stachowiak, Summer Greer, Nikki Escamilla, Juliet Reyes, AnaSofia Montemayor, Lesly de la Llate, Elizabeth Fletes, Diana Arriaga, Paulina Garcia, Arely Fonrouge and Milandra Bossolo.
Olguin-Trevino said the school’s seventh- and eighth-grade squads are still playing until the end of the month. Those teams are coached by Amanda Fulton and Laura Zamarripa. The eighth-graders are 7-0 in district and the seven-graders are 4-3.
32-5A UPDATE
Coupled with results elsewhere in the district, Brownsville Veterans Memorial captured the District 32-5A championship with Saturday’s 26-28, 25-20, 25-17, 25-18 victory against Lopez.
Mercedes upset Edcouch-Elsa in three games Saturday, handing the Lady Yellowjackets their fourth district loss. It tied them for second place in 32-5A with Donna High, both at 7-4.
No one can now catch Brownsville Veterans in the 32-5A title chase.
There are three district matches remaining for the Lady Chargers, who want to complete 32-5A competition with an undefeated record and then do well in the playoffs.
“It feels really great,” Lady Chargers coach Lisa Mares said. “We’ve had our struggles, especially in the beginning, but to know that their hard work and dedication has paid off feels really good. The girls are excited and are really looking forward to finishing strong (in district) and continuing (to do well) in the postseason.”
Brownsville Veterans is atop the 32-5A standings at 11-0 while E-E and Donna High are next at 7-4. Pace is in fourth place at 6-5 followed by Lopez, Mercedes and Donna North, all 4-7, and then Porter at 2-9.
Tuesday’s schedule has Porter at Brownsville Veterans, E-E at Pace, Lopez at Mercedes and Donna North at Donna High.
32-6A UPDATE
Los Fresnos gained a share of the District 32-6A championship with Saturday’s three-game victory at Hanna. Three matches remain on the 32-6A schedule.
The 32-6A defending champion Lady Falcons can claim the title outright at home Tuesday against Harlingen High.
“When we step on the court, every match is a new match and every team is a new team (to play),” Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods said. “We just have to realize it’s 0-0 every time we step out there.
“I’m proud of our girls,” she added. “We need three more wins to go undefeated (in district again). It’ll be fun (the rest of the way).”
Behind Los Fresnos (11-0) in the district standings are Rivera (8-3), Hanna (7-4), San Benito (7-4), Harlingen High (6-5), Weslaco East and Weslaco High (both 2-9) and Harlingen South (0-11).
Besides the match at Los Fresnos, the rest of Tuesday’s 32-6A schedule has San Benito at Hanna, Rivera at Weslaco East and Weslaco High at Harlingen South.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess