Serve’s up — The Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats officially started the 2025 volleyball season for the varsity and junior varsity teams on Aug. 1. Tryouts took place the same week. Two varsity scrimmages occurred a week later, followed by the first varsity tournament at Donna. In the photo, from left, are five varsity returners: Ximena Gonzalez, Jillian Sauceda, Katelyn Kleypas, Izabella Zuniga, Madison Lopez, and Carlie Rodriguez (who is moving up from JV). (Courtesy photo/Albert Villegas)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito Lady Greyhounds and the Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats were grouped together during pool play of the annual Donna Tournament last weekend, but their successes varied quite differently.
Being grouped in Pool F, San Benito and Rio Hondo each played in their second tournament matches, with the latter losing in two sets, 25-14, 25-9.
The Lady ‘Hounds defeated four teams on their way to the semifinal round of the tourney, where they fell to
Mission Veterans Memorial, 8-25, 25-23, 5-15.
San Benito last won the tournament championship in 2023, with Mission Veterans Memorial winning consecutive titles afterward.
Among the other tournament teams the Lady ‘Hounds defeated were Jubilee Brownsville, 26-24, 25-15; Donna High, 25-17, 25-13; and St. Joseph Academy, 25-19, 25-19.
Among the Lady ‘Hounds with top performances were Genesis Meza, Hayden Rodriguez, Kalista Olivares, and Annalise Rodriguez.
San Benito’s overall record improved drastically to 4-3.
On the flip side, Rio Hondo suffered three losses during the tournament, falling to 0-4 on the year.
The team opened against host Donna High (lost 9-25, 9-25) and then Harvest Christian in their tournament finale (lost 15-20, 20-25).
The Lady ’Cats opened their season against the same Harvest Christian school four days earlier, with the match played in Edinburg. They lost, 19-25, 21-25, 17-25.
The Lady ’Cats, who have yet to play a match at home, will next compete on Friday, Aug. 22, in Brownsville when they take on St. Joseph Academy (1-1 record) at 6 p.m.
San Benito will compete in the Brownsville ISD Tournament this week.
The Lady ‘Hounds played Brownsville Pace (6-2 record) again on Thursday, Aug. 21. They are scheduled to play Brownsville Porter and Lyford on Friday, Aug. 22.
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