Lady Lobos defeat Lady Huskies
The La Joya Palmview Lady Lobos volleyball team improved to 2-0 in District 30-5A play Tuesday night after securing an impressive win against the Juarez-Lincoln Lady Huskies in straight sets, 25-7, 25-15, 25-17. After a demanding pre-season schedule that saw the Lady Lobos face South Texas’ elite volleyball teams and after team illness nearly sidelined their entire roster, and after injuries to key players, they finally returned for some home-cookin’. What a remedy homecoming is.
Progress Times photo by Joe Vela
Before the start of the game, sophomore leader and phenom Miley Zieske was honored for earning the 500th kill of her short, but illustrious career. Zieske, who now sits around 600 kills, was happy to be celebrated in front of a home crowd, but even more elated to share the milestone with her teammates.
“It felt great. I’m not really an energy-on-me type of girl. I’m a team-type girl. So for the photographer, I was like, ‘get the whole team. Don’t just focus on me because it’s a team sport. I have the accomplishment, but other people helped me get to it,” Zieske said after racking up another 13 kills Tuesday night.
The Huskies and Lobos entered Tuesday night’s game a world apart but in search of the same goal: consistency. The Lady Lobos are seeking their second straight district crown and seeking to maintain the championship standard they set last year every day. Meanwhile, the Lady Huskies are trying to string together good sets, competitive rallies, and wins.
The Lady Lobos got the memo. They quickly and easily dispatched the Lady Huskies in the first set of their contentious match thanks to stellar defensive performances from Zieske, Arizona Gauna, Valerie Gauna, and Jessica Arevalo, who combined for 67 digs. Arrevalo posted 32 by herself. Despite the outcome, the Lady Lobos weren’t satisfied with their performance. They felt it could have been more dominant.
Progress Times photo by Joe Vela
“We have goals. We have goals. I don’t care what team is in front of us. We need to leave them at or under 10 or 12…Our schedule is going to get tougher and tougher and tougher. We cannot get complacent,” Lady Lobos’ head coach Margo Iglesias-Cantu said after the win.
After their first set win, the Lady Huskies woke up and challenged the defending district champions. The Lady Huskies, led by senior libero Katelyn Garza, fought and clawed their way through set 2. They dove for every ball and rallied to within two points midway through the set. Although they didn’t win, they carried the momentum into set 3 and nearly won. But after gaining a two-point advantage at 17-15, they faltered and eventually lost the set and match. It was disappointing, but the Lady Huskies are confident their great play is a sign of things to come. With five freshmen in their main rotation, that future might be realized soon.
“I actually feel very great. I’m a little bit disappointed in myself, but overall, we defended ourselves, and I think it was an awesome game. We fought so very hard,” Juarez-Lincoln freshman Alexandra Marroquin said when asked to reflect on Tuesday night’s matchup.
“I’m really proud of the girls because I’ve got five freshmen on the team. They’re really coming together. They’re really stepping up. …I feel like we’re gelling; we’re coming together and working together. I really like what I’m seeing,” Lady Huskies’ head coach Nelly Garza said after Tuesday’s loss.
Progress Times photo by Joe Vela
The gym went silent when the dust settled, and the final horn sounded. All the hype and excitement died as players exited the floor to embrace family and friends. Iglesias-Cantu lagged behind to hold court, and you could see fire in her eyes when she spoke to parents and supporters. It was a look mirrored by everyone with a Lobo on their shirt. A look that said, “We aren’t done yet.”
“We just have to keep preparing for the people in front of us. Even though we know who’s coming, we cannot get complacent. We have to take care of the people that are in front of us. You never know, they can creep up on you and take the W from you. So we’re taking it one game at a time, but we’re preparing,” Iglesias-Cantu said
The Lady Lobos and Lady Huskies will return to action this Saturday against Laredo Nixon and Laredo Cigarroa, respectively.
Notable Big 7 Matchups this weekend:
Sharyland Lady Rattlers:
The 21-4 Lady Rattlers are back like they never left. They’ve set records, won trophies, and are primed to win even more. Tomorrow, they will look to bounce back from their tough loss to the McAllen Lady Bulldogs when they play host to the 14-8 PSJA High Lady Bears, one of the best volleyball programs in South Texas. The Lady Rattlers already own one win against the Lady Bears this year. Hard to believe they won’t make it two.
La Joya Lady Coyotes:
The Lady Coyotes’ success this season has been impressive, especially considering who they’ve played. A non-district schedule full of playoff teams from every classification and tough district in South Texas wasn’t enough to stop them from eclipsing their win total from a year ago. With a full slate of district games ahead, the Lady Coyotes could see double-digit wins for the first time in a long time. It’s well deserved for a team in one of the Valley’s best athletics programs. This Saturday, the Lady Coyotes travel to Roma for a rematch against the playoff-contending Lady Gladiators; the same Gladiators that beat them at home last year. It’s a potentially hostile situation, but I like the Lady Coyotes’ chances.