FALFURRIAS — It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment the McAllen Memorial volleyball team morphed into the team that galloped onto the Falfurrias Junior High gymnasium floor Tuesday.
That team looked across the net at its opponent, perennial power Corpus Christi Flour Bluff and all-world hitter sophomore Maggie Kroft, and simply said “bring it.”
But nothing was brought. And if the Hornets tried to bring something, it was usually slammed right back at them.
The Mustangs kept the Hornets out of system and flustered Kroft with multiple “not-a-chance” blocks en route to a dominant 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 victory over Flour Bluff in a UIL Class 5A regional quarterfinal and a trip to the Sweet 16 beginning Friday.
Joining McAllen Memorial in the Region IV-5A semifinals will be Sharyland High, which also won in without-a-doubt fashion, ousting Victoria West 25-19, 25-23, 25-17.
The two District 31-5A rivals could meet in the regional championship if they win their next match. Sharyland will face Liberty Hill at 5 p.m. Friday at San Antonio Northside Sports gym, and McAllen Memorial will follow at 7 p.m. against Rouse. The winners of those matches will play for the regional title at noon Saturday.
While Memorial has been an offensive juggernaut all season with all the tools of a good volleyball team, there were instances where it all fell apart. Head coach Ashley Doffing referred to those moments all season as “hiccups.” For the past three weeks, the Mustangs clearly found the remedy for those glitches.
Maybe it was after a five-set loss to McAllen High where it all changed, or it could’ve been four days later when the Mustangs ended Sharyland High’s 29-match win streak. The Mustangs are on a nine-win streak of their own now. Since that win over the Rattlers, Memorial has looked better, stronger and faster each time out en route to winning 24 of its past 27 sets during that span.
The Mustangs have more hitters, better defense, improved passing and they exude confidence, just like they did Tuesday when they were down 12-5 in the second set to Flour Bluff. There were no shaky knees, no panicking. There was just a team that went to business using its myriad of thunderous hitters, blockers that formed a solid wall of defense time and again, a pair of setters that ran their fastest offense of the season and a human backboard, disguised as a libero, reading the defense.
And despite having strained her back early in the match Thursday against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, Madisyn Sosa delivered some blistering topspin jump serves that came across the net more like screaming meteors, often just too hot to handle, if they were handled at all. While all areas of their performance were in synch, it may have been their approach from behind the service line that led to the smooth win. Of course, when middle hitter Alicia Ziegler popped a Flour Bluff player in the noggin with a crushing attack, the could’ve sent the message as well.
It was a performance for the ages for the Mustangs. Head coach Ashley Doffing said the product that was on the floor Tuesday was a refined version of what they started with in August.
“I think coming through August they were learning they had to come together, it wasn’t an individual thing,” Doffing said. “Since August to November, it has been great. We have been learning that we’re much more than just that offensive team, that we’re strong in the front, we have a big block and Valley volleyball needs to be respected. Today, this definitely brought it all home.”
Amare Hernandez led the offense with 14 kills and one block, and Sosa contributed eight kills and four aces, along with several non-returned serves. Leah Garcia collected six kills and four blocks, Alicia Ziegler had five kills and three blocks, and Kaitlyn Martin added four kills and an ace while also getting in on the “block party” with three.
Madison Amaya tallied 16 assists and two kills, and Gaby Torres had 11 assists, three kills and three aces. Kassie Falcon contributed 10 digs as the Mustangs’ last line of defense.
“I did everything I could do to be ready for this game,” said Sosa, talking about dealing with her back strain. “I tested my back on that first serve, and I felt pretty powerful in the moment. This win really means a lot.”