NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Some volleyball teams would do anything in their power to put together a season with a 31-9 record. The McAllen Memorial Mustangs were proud of their year, but knew when they walked off the court after their 25-21, 28-26, 27-25 defeat at the hands of San Antonio O’Connor in the regional semifinals they left unfinished business.
The 2017 season marked the Mustangs third consecutive trip to the regional tournament. The third time dreams of an elite eight and even final four were cut short.
Seniors Jocelynn Everage and Valeria Trevino are the only two players who played on each of those varsity teams. Now they have their turn as upperclassmen leaders to try to guide the powder blue to uncharted waters.
Everage has been the kills leader for the last two seasons and even after a preseason scrimmage this week she was talking about high standards, but also the camaraderie with her teammates.
“Going in we still have to uphold a certain standard so we know we have to work hard and push through practices, and really improve,” Everage said. “But it’s so fun seeing the girls and the connection we have getting to play with each other. High school season is probably the best time of the year, just because it has such a great connection and bond and that makes it so fun.”
Trevino, who saw her role and impact increase in her sophomore season, is watching the value of playing with a similar team firsthand. Last season she was second in aces with 47 and second in kills with 285.
“The advantage we get having a young team and growing together as the years go by is that we build courage and get strong as a team,” Trevino said. “With other groups, the years before, we would have a lot of seniors so we would have to recreate the varsity group. We started as young team, we grew up and this became a family to us.”
Head coach Lorena Lopez was watching her team try to hit a towel on the opposite side of the net with their serves to train precision on the second day of practice. The long-time Memorial coach is watching a new group gel together for the 12th time.
“Every group that comes in wants to break through that round,” Lopez said. “They see the team before them and they say ‘we want to be better than that team.’ It’s been a lot of fire coming into this season because I have so many returnees. This is the first time I’ve had a big group returning in the last three years. The last few years I’ve graduated half the team.”
That’s part of what makes this year special for Lopez’s group. It’s also her last season as head coach before she’s promoted to an administrative position.
“It doesn’t change the way I coach or the way I’m approaching this season because I’ve always told the girls ‘no season is identical so you make the best of the one you’re in,’” Lopez said. “Don’t think about the next year and don’t think about the last year.”
For Everage her connection to her teammates and head coach is unique and unbreakable. Her mother was a UTPA teammate of Lopez in 1999 and 2000. The two were friends while she was pregnant with Jocelynn. She’s also coached some of her current teammates.
“My mom was pregnant with me and they were friends so I’ve know her probably since like birth. I’ve always been around volleyball and known coach Lopez,” Everage said. “With some of the girls I actually helped coach some of them, like Macy (Henderson) and them when they were in Sting, club volleyball. I’ve known some of them since they started.”
McAllen Memorial will once again start their season against powerhouse program Mission Veterans on Tuesday. Step one in another hunt for supremacy in the ultra-competitive city of McAllen, district 30-6A and region.
“As a coach we know we can try again next year,” Lopez said. “Even though we coach every team to be the best it can possibly be and go as far as it can go. We know if we don’t get it this year we’re going to get a new group of kids, always a new chance. For me it’s like I’m a senior. This is my last go.”
RGV Volleyball Preseason Top 10
McAllen Memorial
Mission Veterans
McAllen Rowe
McAllen High
Los Fresnos
Brownsville Rivera
Harlingen High
Sharyland Pioneer
San Benito