Unfinished Business

While most of the dust has settled on the Rio Grande Valley's regular season, Edinburg Economedes and Harlingen High compete against each other this weekend for the last available playoff spot.

The Lady Cardinals (15-15 overall, 7-7 District 31-5A) and the Lady Jaguars (14-13, 7-7) finished tied for fourth in league and battle in a play-in match at noon Saturday at Economedes.

It is almost fitting that it is these two schools playing out for the postseason. The teams, which have enjoyed success in recent years, played .500 volleyball for most of this season and have been plagued by inconsistency.

"I think (Economedes coach Araceli Ortega) kind of looks at the season like me," Lady Cardinals coach Charlie Miller said. "We look at some of the scores and there were opportunities that could have been. I have people say, ‘The way you guys played Edinburg wasn't the way you played last night. If you played like that every night, you guys could have won.' It's getting them to play like that every night is the challenge."

The Lady Jaguars would not have been in this position if they would not have lost to PSJA High last Saturday.

"I think a lot of it has to do with the inexperience of playing in pressure situations," Ortega said. "I think Saturday was a good test for us because Pharr came out with one goal of just taking us down. I really think we needed a match like that to show my girls that they can't relax at anytime."

Despite his team's bumps this season, Miller said he has enjoyed watching his young players gain experience. Ortega said she feels similar about her team.

"I'm really proud of my girls," Ortega said. "Through our ups and downs, we are still in the thick of things."

Other than District 31-5A, District 30-5A still has some unfinished business. McAllen Memorial and McAllen Rowe will play for the league's second seed at 3 p.m. Saturday at McAllen High.

SURGE

Harlingen South's late push to win the District 31-5A championship was impressive considering the path it had to take to get there.

The Lady Hawks trailed Edinburg North two games to none last Tuesday and rallied to win the match. South then knocked off Edinburg High in four games on Saturday to force a tie atop the league standings. It was somewhat of an upset considering the Lady Bobcats dominated the Lady Hawks during their first district match.

Then, with the help of North's upset of Edinburg High on Tuesday, South beat city-rival Harlingen High to capture the district title for the second consecutive year.

RARE

Hidalgo's District 32-3A championship is only the second outright title in the program's history.

Peter Rasmussen covers high school volleyball for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448 or via e-mail at prasmussen@themonitor.com.