By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Volleyball standouts Giselle Ibarra of Los Fresnos and Stephanie Garza of Rivera were a lot alike in the way they led their teams to the Class 6A state playoffs in 2017.
They have been chosen as co-MVPs on The Brownsville Herald’s 2017 All-Metro Volleyball Team.
They were also selected as co-MVPs on the 32-6A All-District Team this year.
Both are senior outside hitters who displayed an all-around game that kept them pretty much always on the court as they did what was necessary to help their teams enjoy success during the season just completed. Whether it meant making a crucial dig or pass, serving an ace or providing a well-placed kill, both girls did it frequently and with flair.
Their most obvious difference has to do with height — Ibarra stands about 5-foot-8, while Garza is just 5-3 and blessed with an uncanny leaping ability that enables her to go high above the net to smash the ball accurately into the opposite court.
The co-MVPs each got the job done as the Lady Raiders and Lady Falcons finished 1-2 in 32-6A and each team went two rounds in the playoffs.
The Lady Raiders, 29-11 overall, captured the 32-6A championship with a 14-0 district mark, while the Lady Falcons went 27-12 overall and 11-3 in district.
Garza’s MVP honors in recent weeks caught her by surprise. She’s a four-year varsity player for the Lady Raiders.
“I can’t believe that happened (and I was named an MVP),” said Garza, who ranked first on her team this season with 402 kills and 313 assists while finishing second with 37 serving aces and third with 211 digs. “I think I might have surprised some people (with my hitting) because of my height. I think I’m probably one of the shortest hitters (around).
“This season was bittersweet because we accomplished so much and (yet) it was my last year to play for this team,” added Garza, who is preparing to run on Rivera’s relays during the upcoming track season. “To accomplish what we accomplished my last year was really amazing.
“All these awards and things wouldn’t even be possible without my team, so thank you to my teammates and coaches.”
Rivera coach Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra, this season’s All-Metro Coach of the Year, said Garza is a fighter on the court who never gives up.
“Stephanie is aggressive but smart in the way she plays,” Avelar-Guerra said. “She’s just an incredible player and a great leader. I think other teams often overlooked her and she would step up for us when we were in trouble or didn’t have the lead.
“It’s hard to find players like her who want the ball and are willing to step up and make a play,” the Rivera coach added. “That’s the type of player she is.”
Both Garza and Ibarra were team captains for their respective squads.
“Giselle was our captain and our leader in every sense of the word,” Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods said. “She always listens and does what you tell her with no arguing. She’s a motivator on and off the court. She’s very encouraging to all team players and welcomes the younger girls with open arms. Giselle is always the first to help them out.
“She’s a girl with a (great) personality and smile off the charts,” Woods added. “She is so nice and warm to team members and to opposing teams. Giselle never says a bad thing about anyone. Some players this season said she was taunting. She is more like intimidating.
“Giselle is just my super hero altogether. I love that kid and will miss her a lot.”
It’s not surprising the Lady Falcon standout prefers to pass along whatever praise she receives to her teammates. Ibarra is a three-year member of the Los Fresnos varsity who is now getting ready for the track season.
“It’s awesome (to be named an MVP) because I’ve put so much hard work into it, and it’s just a great feeling,” said Ibarra, who led her team with 467 kills this season and was second for the Lady Falcons with 394 digs. “It was an amazing season and it was a lot of fun. It was different than the past years.
“It’s a team effort because without a pass, we don’t have a set, and without a set, we don’t have a hit, so I really don’t think it was an individual (solely responsible for the team’s success),” Ibarra added. “I think it was more teamwork (that made the difference). I love my team. We all played for God.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess