Valley squads try for next step

Sharyland coach Lizette Torres looks back to last year and wonders what could have been if her team somehow beat San Antonio Reagan in Game 1 of their Class 5A, regional quarterfinal match.

The Lady Rattlers dropped the opening frame, falling 28-26 to heavily-favored Reagan. With the momentum, the San Antonio school swept the match.

"I think that first game really sets the precedence for the entire match," Torres said. "I think if we would have won that first one, that most definitely would have given us confidence for the next game."

As was the case with Sharyland, luck doesn't seem to land on the side of Rio Grande Valley teams playing that deep in the playoffs.

As the University Interscholastic League volleyball playoffs begin today, there are teams in deep South Texas with a legitimate shot at the Region IV Tournament at all class levels but that's usually as far they go.

Most around Valley volleyball agree that a local program will eventually breakthrough. This season, however, should be as tough as ever.

"Our region is probably the toughest in the state of Texas," Torres said. "We have four of the top 10 teams in state in our region alone. Reagan is ranked No. 7 in the nation and I believe (San Antonio) Churchill is No. 27 in the nation. Austin Westlake is up there.

"To say that a team from the Valley could make it past this year, I don't think so because Reagan has the same team for the most part from last year and (San Antonio) O'Connor has the same team."

An example of what the Valley could potentially face, Austin Westlake senior setter Elly Barrett is committed to the seventh-ranked team in the country - California.

"The regional tournament is always tough," said McAllen High coach Paula Dodge, who has taken two McHi teams to the regional tourney. "We are waiting for a team to break through. It's going to be soon, if not this year."

Only Harlingen South, which advanced to the state tournament as a Class 4A program in 2003, has played beyond the regional semis. In 2003 the Class 4A playoffs did not feature a regional tournament but will have one this season.

"The girls in the San Antonio area are pretty much playing club ball all year," Lady Hawks coach Steve Lunsford said. "That is a huge advantage for them.

"Strangely, we had just maybe two (players that played club) on that 2003 team. There was just something special about them with the confidence they played with."

Reagan coach Mike Carter said the key is exposing more Valley athletes to club on a year round basis. He too sees a breakthrough at some point.

"I think the growth of San Antonio will help," Carter said. "You build a program and then you have to cut it in half because of a new school. The more schools that open somewhat dilutes the talent pool and kind of brings it down a little bit compared to a few schools that funnel them all in."

With Valley teams consistently advancing to the regional tourney, Carter said deep South Texas can't be taken lightly.

"There was a time when (Valley teams) could not get past Corpus and Laredo teams," Tip of Texas Volleyball Officials President Dan Lawless said. "Now we consistently do that. Now, I think it is only a matter of time and getting more girls in club ball."

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.

Five Teams To Watch

>> McAllen High: The No. 1 ranked team all season is one of the postseason favorites.

>>  Harlingen South: The Lady Hawks found a way to win the District 31-5A championship and usually a team that finds its way to the regional tourney.

>> Edcouch-Elsa: Already having one of the best seasons in school history, the Lady Yellowjackets could possibly advance further than any other Lady Yellowjackets squad in school history.

>> Los Fresnos: The young Lady Falcons surged during district and will attempt to keep up with some the best in deep South Texas.

>> San Perlita: The Lady Trojans won the 32-1A championship but most small schools in the valley fail to make noise in the playoffs. This could be the year.