FREDDY GONZALEZ | Valley Morning Star
For the second straight season, the Santa Maria Lady Cougars were ousted in the regional semifinals. Last year they lost a heartbreaker to Freer and this season history repeated itself as they again lost to the Lady Buckaroos 25-15, 25-21, 25-16 in Kingsville.
However, if one word could be use to describe the Lady Cougars volleyball team, Santa Maria head coach Sofia Garcia said it is: Legendary.
Why? Because Garcia said she believes this year’s squad will be remembered for years to come.
“This team is going to go down in the history books because of what they did,” she said. “They’re leaving a legacy behind and that is what we have been preaching to them this year. This team did this, now what is the next team going to do? We always tell them ‘what legacy are you leaving behind.’
“Last year’s team left its mark and this year’s team also left its mark and they did an awesome job, but we just fell short. But they are going to be remembered as the team that got to back-to-back regional quarterfinals.”
On Santa Maria’s way to the third round, the Lady Cougars defeated Premont 3-0 in bi-district round and San Antonio Stacy 3-0 in the area round. And while the team might have lost in the regional quarters, Garcia said the recognition and support the team received was an honor.
“We’re honored to finally be getting some recognition as a little school,” she said. “Nikki Rowe is in the playoffs again, McAllen Memorial is in the playoffs again and they’re great teams, and it’s an honor to be mentioned among those teams.
“Now we just have to reset and refocus because come Friday or Monday the group will be back at it again with basketball.”