Memorial's Lyons, E-E's Griffith snare All-Valley honors

McALLEN — Those difficult days seem so long ago for McAllen Memorial sophomore Chelsea Lyons. Too intimidated to question coach Lorena Lopez’s judgment, Lyons tackled the task of become the Lady Mustangs’ next varsity setter. Forget that the 5-foot-10 converted middle blocker had never played the position before.

“It was really difficult, especially in the first tournaments,” Lyons said about making the transition. “I wanted to give up. I cried, ‘Why would she do this to me?’ It was a challenge for me, and I wanted to rise up to the occasion and prove to myself that I could do it.”

That was not a problem. Lyons tallied 267 assists, 68 digs and 48 kills during district play, an effort that earned her 30-5A’s setter of the year award. Her ability to successfully make the conversion was enough for her to be Valley Freedom Newspapers’ All-Valley Newcomer of the Year.

Before the season Edcouch-Elsa coach Ofelia Griffith carefully chose her words when describing her team’s potential. With a strong group of seniors, led by four-year starter Marisa Valadez, Griffith knew she had a team that could do some great things.

The Lady Yellowjackets didn’t disappoint as they went undefeated in 14 District 32-4A matches and advanced to the fourth-round of the playoffs for the first time in school history. Griffith was selected as All-Valley Coach of the Year for leading her 31-5 Lady ’Jackets to the regional tournament, also a school first.

“They were goal-oriented and a hard-working bunch,” Griffith said of her team. “They were willing to do what it took. It goes beyond the August through November season. It goes back to the summer. You try to get them to open gym, you try to get them to play summer leagues, and that takes commitment because that is their free time.”

Lyons does not play basketball so she is able to focus entirely on volleyball. That was one of the reasons Lopez thought she’d be a good candidate to learn a new position. Her height, her experience as a hitter and the fact that she was left-handed were particularly attractive because Lyons could hit away if she didn’t get a good ball to set.

Lopez delved into it slowly. Lyons split time with another setter, but eventually grew confident enough in Lyons to give her the position full time.

“It’s an advantage having a taller setter,” Lopez said. “Chelsea’s also an amazing hitter. The expectations are set high for these girls. I knew if she worked hard at this position, she would be fine.”

Lyons got a taste of varsity when she was moved up for last season’s playoffs. That brief experience served as a nice springboard for this season, her first real varsity season. She earned immediate respect from her teammates when she was named one of the team’s captains.

“I felt the leader come out in me,” Lyons said. “I really love volleyball. During the games, I really tried to bring up my team and to try to help them play the best they could.”

At Edcouch-Elsa, the Lady ’Jackets established themselves as one of the Valley’s elite from the beginning when they stunned Los Fresnos in the championship of the season-opening Donna Bravettes tournament.

“That was a great start to the season and a big confidence-builder,” Griffith said. “It showed us what they could be. The teams we beat were tough teams and we earned it. Nothing was given to us. We earned it. There’s no feeling like you earned a victory.”

Edcouch-Elsa won also won the Alice tournament, and with most of the other teams in rebuilding mode, the Lady ’Jackets were the clear favorites to repeat as district champions. Keeping her squad grounded and hungry became Griffith’s biggest challenge.

“It’s a fine line between cockiness and confidence,” Griffith said. “When you cross that line, that’s when you run into trouble. You have to work and earn it every single game. There’s not one time when you can relax, not if you want to accomplish the goals you have set.”

CHELSEA LYONS

School: McAllen Memorial

Position: S

Grade: Sophomore

Stats: 267 assists, 68 digs and 48 kills (in district)

Notable: District 30-5A setter of the year

OFELIA GRIFFITH

School: Edcouch-Elsa

Record: 31-5A

Notable: The Lady Yellowjackets advanced to the Region IV-4A tournament for the first time in school history.