Listen up — San Benito Head Varsity Volleyball Coach Ruby Medina speaks to her team before a dual match against the McAllen Rowe Lady Warriors, played at Pace High School, in Brownsville, on Tuesday, Aug. 12. (Courtesy photo/Albert Villegas)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
BROWNSVILLE, TX —The San Benito Lady Greyhounds began their volleyball season with dual match play against the host Pace Lady Vikings and the visiting McAllen Rowe Lady Warriors on Tuesday afternoon.
In its first match against Rowe, San Benito lost in straight sets, 25-16, 25-21. The second match against Pace was decided by a similar two-set loss, 25-20, 25-16.
The Lady ‘Hounds volleyball season is still a work in progress for Head Coach Ruby Medina’s team, especially compared to what she mentioned her players accomplished during the two scrimmages at Edinburg and Donna North.
Among the teams that were at the first scrimmage were host Edinburg, Mission Veterans Memorial, Edcouch-Elsa, and PSJA North. The second scrimmage featured host Donna North, Weslaco East, La Feria, and Valley View.
“Compared to the scrimmages last week, we could have played better today,” Medina said at the end of the two dual matches. “We still are learning to connect; we were just off.”
In the initial set versus Rowe, San Benito’s Genesis Meza secured a few aces to boost her team to a 7-4 advantage. Rowe responded with a comeback, leveling the score at 10-10. This was one of five ties in that set.
Rowe eventually took a 20-14 lead and triumphed.
In the second set, the Lady Warriors took control of the pace early on, giving SBHS two ties, with the second at 10-10.
With Meza serving again, San Benito scored four consecutive points but still trailed, 20-16. The closest SBHS got to Rowe’s lead was 24-21.
Medina said this is the time of the season to find which Lady ‘Hounds will contribute the most on the way not only to victories, but also provide an effective presence during matches.
“As coaches, we are still doing much switching, and just trying to find our chemistry out there on the court,” Medina said. “I know we’re a better passing team than what we showed out here; our serve receive can be improved.”
Against Pace, the Lady ‘Hounds were led by Annalise Rodriguez’s serve play.
In the first set, she earned a couple of aces that propelled SBHS to a 6-2 lead.
When Rodriguez scored her second consecutive ace, she gave the Lady ‘Hounds their last lead, 20-19.
Pace controlled the second set, allowing SBHS to tie twice, the second time coming at 3-3 when Rodriguez scored a point.
Pace went on to close the set by a nine-point lead.
Some of those points came on kills that San Benito players were unable to defend against in the middle.
“I’m confident in our players that we will figure it all out,” Medina said.
San Benito’s following two scheduled events have the Lady ’Hounds at Donna (Aug. 14-16) and Brownsville (Aug. 21-23) for tournament play.
The Lady ‘Hounds host their home opener against La Joya on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 6:30 p.m.
Among the varsity players who suited up for dual play were Alexa Perea (1), Kalista Olivares (2), Isabella Gonzalez (6), Camila Guajardo (7), Hayden Rodriguez (8), Lauren De la Rosa (9), Genesis Meza (11), Annalise Rodriguez (12), Jayla Delgado (13), Valeria Enriquez (14), Liennai Allen (17), and Lori Martinez (18).
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