Rivera, Los Fresnos play area-round matches today

Two of the four teams from District 32-5A that qualified for the Class 5A volleyball playoffs are sched-uled to play second-round matches today.

District 32-5A third-place Los Fresnos, a 25-18, 26-24, 16-25, 25-23 bi-district winner over Harlingen High on Tuesday, plays host to District 30-5A champion Sharyland (27-5) at noon today.

District 32-5A champion Rivera, a 25-16, 21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 18-16 bi-district victor over Edinburg Economedes, also Tuesday, faces District 29-5A runner-up Eagle Pass at 6 p.m. today at Zapata.

The winners advance to next week’s 5A regional quarterfinals.

Playing at home Tuesday, Economedes, which tied for second place in District 31-5A, gave Rivera (26-5) quite a match, taking the Lady Raiders to five games.

“We’re never too confident because anything can happen on the court,” said Rivera’s Kelly Ramos, a senior and one of the Lady Raiders’ team captains. “We’re really glad to be here (playoffs) and we’re just going to continue to work harder so we can keep going.”

A year ago, the Lady Raiders went to the Region IV-5A Tournament in San Antonio, and they’re trying to make it back. They knew even before the Economedes match that it won’t be easy.

“We’re tying to prove something again (in getting to the regional tourney),” said Laura Ochoa, also a Rivera senior and team captain. “We’re going to push it through as much as we can.”

Los Fresnos’ victory over a solid, 25-8 Harlingen High squad on Tuesday was somewhat of a surprise.

Now the Lady Falcons (14-12) are going against a Sharyland team that is considered one of the best in the Rio Grande Valley.

The Lady Falcons played at home Tuesday and will be on their homecourt again today.

“We always find a way to come from behind,” Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods said after the victory over the Lady Cardinals. “We’ve been doing it all year.”

Pace, the 32-5A runner-up to Rivera, ended its season on Thursday night in a 25-14, 25-21, 25-10 loss in Laredo to District 29-5A champion Laredo Alexander in the area playoffs. The Viqueens, who defeated Edinburg High 25-19, 25-18, 22-25, 26-24 in bi-district on Tuesday, ended their season at 17-10.

San Benito (14-13), the fourth playoff qualifier from 32-5A, was eliminated in a 25-15, 25-21, 25-13 bi-district loss to District 31-5A champion Harlingen South on Monday night.