With the possibility of a high-stakes blockbuster playoff match looming next week, the biggest challenge for Los Fresnos and Sharyland will be staying focused on their matches this weekend.
Before No. 1 vs. No. 2 can occur, the Lady Falcons and Lady Rattlers will have to defeat dangerous programs with rich playoff traditions.
Los Fresnos (34-2), which finished the regular season as Valley Freedom Newspapers No. 1 team, will play host to No. 7 McAllen High (26-14) at 6 p.m. Friday in a Class 5A area playoff. Second-ranked Sharyland (31-14) travels to unranked Harlingen South (21-7) at 5 p.m. Friday. The winners will play in the regional quarterfinals with a spot at next weekend’s Region IV-5A tournament in San Antonio on the line.
“The girls are playing with some confidence,” Sharyland coach Lizette Torres said. “We needed to get some confidence. I know there’s been a lot of talk about us meeting Los Fresnos in the third round, but we are not looking past anyone. You can’t do that in the playoffs.”
You certainly can’t look past Harlingen South. Although the Lady Hawks have had a sub-par season by their standards, Harlingen South has been the Valley most consistent program over the last few years. The Lady Hawks have been playing with more consistency lately and they have one of the Valley’s most dangerous hitters in senior Sydney Herrera.
Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods echoed Torres’ sentiments — looking ahead is just asking for trouble.
“We’ve done the same thing all year long, whoever is next on the schedule is the team that we are focusing on,” Woods said.
The Lady Falcons prepared for the postseason by playing Corpus Christi Calallen in a warmup on Saturday. Los Fresnos rallied to win in five games after dropping the first two. Woods said. Calallen’s size served as good preparation for the playoffs and defeating a team like that was a good sign for team.
It helped the Lady Falcons prepare for playing against Edinburg Economedes’ Leigha Brown on Monday and will help them face McHi’s Monique Swift.
QUICK TURNAROUND
Port Isabel doesn’t have much time to prepare for its Class 3A area playoff against Needville, which is scheduled for 7 tonight at Corpus Christi West Oso. That’s tough enough, but getting ready to play a second-round playoff game without one of your best player makes it more difficult.
The Lady Tarpons (21-6) will likely be without Kate Bowles, who injured her knee during warmups on Tuesday prior to Port Isabel’s bi-district playoff against Raymondville. It was a freak injury and it occurred on her final jump in warmups.
Port Isabel coach George Hamilton said Bowles is expected to get her knee examined today. The preliminary diagnosis is a torn meniscus.
In addition to being one of the Lady Tarpons’ best hitters, Bowles is one of the team’s tallest players. Port Isabel will need that size to combat, Needville, which Hamilton will have a formidable size advantage. Hamilton hopes Kris Smith and freshman Gabby Torres, both 5-11, will help. The Lady Tarpons will rely on the defense of Gabby Gonzalez, Kiersten Steirs and libero Kim Ceballos.
“If we didn’t have the injuries or anything, I think we would be fine,” Hamilton said.
STATE CHAMPS
Donna IDEA won the Texas Charter Schools Athletic League’s state championship in Austin last weekend. The Lady Titans defeated Harmony Science Academy from Dallas, 25-14, 25-16, 25-10, in the semifinals and Harmony School Advancement from Houston , 23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-17, in the championship.
The Lady Titans were former members of the UIL. The school decided to drop out of UIL play and join the Texas Charter Schools Athletic League after last school year.
David Hinojosa covers high school volleyball for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442 or via email at dhinojosa@themonitor.com
Valley Playoff Schedule
Nov. 3
Area
Class 3A
Port Isabel vs. Needville at Corpus Christi West Oso, 7 p.m.
Nov. 4
Area
Class 5A
Sharyland at Harlingen South, 5 p.m.
McAllen High at Los Fresnos, 6 p.m.
Nov. 5
Area
Class 5A
McAllen Memorial at Edinburg North, noon
San Benito vs. Laredo Alexander at Alice, 6 p.m.
