By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
An MVP is the type of athlete who at times must step forward and carry a team.
Even with a wealth of talent around her, Joseline Caraveo was that kind of player for the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons this volleyball season.
The 5-foot-11 senior middle blocker was one of the main reasons the Lady Falcons quickly emerged as the top team in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, making Caraveo a clear choice as MVP of The Brownsville Herald’s 2015 All-Metro Volleyball Team.
“Joseline had a great season last year and an even better one this year,” said Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods, whose squad went 39-9 and won District 32-6A with a 14-0 record before advancing three rounds in the Class 6A playoffs. “She was our sparkplug. If we needed an explosive kill, she’d provide it. She had a lot of big-game points for us (with her kills and blocks).
“Her personality, her character (made a difference),” added Woods, who surpassed 600 career wins this season. “It was her desire to work hard and win. To be part of a great team was her main concern.”
Caraveo, a member of the varsity for four years, simply was a force at the net. As a senior she recorded 351 kills with 237 blocks. From the service line she displayed 91.3 percent accuracy and had six aces in addition to 62 digs, proving she could play anywhere on the court.
When the Lady Falcons faced Laredo Alexander during the second round of the playoffs on Nov. 7 at La Joya Palmview, it was a rough start to the match as Los Fresnos lost the first game 25-20. Things were not looking too good early for the Lady Falcons, but Caraveo was there to pick up the squad with some timely and authoritative kills that seemed to give new life to her teammates. Eventually, the entire team followed her lead and went on to win the match 25-21, 25-16, 26-24.
It was not the first time she had stepped forward as an impact player in a critical situation for the Lady Falcons.
“This season was just amazing,” said Caraveo, who hopes to continue her volleyball career in college while studying pre-med. “Everyone on this team was just compatible with each other, and we all helped bring up the team when we were down. It was just a special year for us.
“This year’s team was so strong and mentally focused on going far,” added Caraveo, a three-year starter. “Unfortunately, we didn’t go quite as far as we expected (and didn’t make it back to the Region IV-6A Tournament like last year), but this was one of those teams that was very dedicated to the sport.”
Caraveo was named the 32-6A MVP as well.
“There’s really no way to describe the feeling (that goes with receiving those types of awards),” she said. “It’s just something very special. I couldn’t do it without God helping me, and my coaches, too.
“I also thank my club coaches, my parents (Chris and Sandra Caraveo) and my family for supporting me,” she added.
With a new chapter of life ahead of her upon graduation in the spring, Caraveo said she’ll take plenty of treasured thoughts to college and beyond of her days playing volleyball for the Lady Falcons.
“I’ll always have good memories, especially of my coaches and teammates,” she said. “I’ll never forget them.”
The Brownsville Herald’s
2015 All-Metro Volleyball Team
Superlatives
Most Valuable Player
Joseline Caraveo, Los Fresnos
Defensive Most Valuable Player
Sam Ibarra, Los Fresnos
Setter of the Year
Miranda Gonzales, Los Fresnos
Libero of the Year
Krista Lopez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Newcomer of the Year
Isis Delgado, Los Fresnos
Coach of the Year
Lisa Mares, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
First Team
Ebony Casanova, Pace
Pamela Ellis, Hanna
Jenny Cardenas, Rivera
Sarah Sandoval, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Jackie Kingsbury, Los Fresnos
Karla Sosa, Porter
Second Team
Sausha-Rae Brown, Hanna
Flora Herrera, Hanna
Alexandria Martinez, Port Isabel
Valeria Varela, Pace
Michelle Morales, Rivera
Megan Sanchez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.