Lady Patriots set to host Lady Diamondbacks tonight
The Texas High School volleyball season is almost over. Its second season is in full swing. Five teams from the Big 7, the Mission Veterans Lady Patriots, the Sharyland Lady Rattlers, the Mission Lady Eagles, the Sharyland Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks, and the La Joya Palmview Lady Lobos all qualified for the UIL State Volleyball Playoffs after stellar regular seasons. Of the five, only three have advanced to the Area Round. Today, the Lady Rattlers, Lady Patriots, and Lady Diamondbacks will all be active with a spot in the Regional Semifinals on the line.
Tonight at 5 pm, the Mission Veterans Lady Patriots will host the Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks in a rare blockbuster matchup between two of the Big 7’s elite volleyball programs. Both teams will be fighting for a chance to play the winner of Liberty Hill and San Antonio MacArthur in the Regional Semifinals, a new development following the creation of playoff divisions in non-football sports by UIL. When it’s all said and done, this might be the most consequential volleyball game in the history of the Big 7.
Mission Veterans Lady Patriots, District 30-5A Champions, Bi-District Champions (33-4, 16-0):
The Lady Patriots have been on a tear as of late. They have won 17 games in a row, and 19 of their last 20. They have only lost one set since August. Behind a dynamic quartet that includes potential 30-5A MVP Mady Perez, 30-5A assists leader Heather Flores, dominant middle blocker Delilah Cantu, and veteran hitter Sophia Pacheco, the Lady Patriots have looked unstoppable. Their star power and magnificent effort culminated with them claiming their 19th District championship in 23 years and 10th in 11 years.
On Monday night, the Lady Patriots dominated the Corpus Christi King Lady Mustangs in three sets, winning by final scores of 20-25, 21-25, and 25-19 to claim their first Bi-district championship in three years. They will now turn their attention to the Area round as they prepare to face their toughest test in months against the Sharyland Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks, a team they split even with in their last two meetings. Although the Lady Patriots have established a legacy of winning and have yet to miss the playoffs, head coach Diana Lerma is still humbled by all her program has achieved these past two decades, and she’s hungry for more than just volleyball success.
“As a head coach of the Lady Patriots’ volleyball program, I am overwhelmed with pride. I love bringing back yet another district title to add to our dynasty. Our girls have endured and sacrificed long hours of practice and were able to adapt to a higher level of competition. As coaches, we worked harder, longer, and smarter to be able to make these girls champions both on & off the court. The skills they’ve developed will help them accomplish their goals, and the stories they will tell—will follow them for a lifetime— they will carry what they have learned on to future endeavors. They will be leaders!! Moments like this that last a lifetime,” Lerma said when asked to reflect on the season ahead of tonight’s matchup.
Sharyland Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks, Bi-District Champions (30-8, 11-5):
Monday night at Sharyland Pioneer High School, the Lady Diamondbacks volleyball team swept the Brownsville Pace Lady Vikings to claim their fifth consecutive Bi-district championship. The Lady Diamondbacks won by final scores of 25-18, 25-19, and 25-8.
While they struggled to separate from the Lady Vikings in the first set, the Lady Diamondbacks’ stingy defense withstood nearly every downline and cross-attack thrown their way. After minor adjustments and settling into the game, the Lady Diamondbacks’ offense finally took off.
“After a couple of bumps in the first game, we started to get our tempo back, and we started to run quicker sets in the transition. So we did better, and we picked up our pace a little bit, so overall, I’m proud of the outcome today,” Pioneer head coach Laura Cavazos said when asked about her team’s path to victory.
Ava Saenz, Itzel Hernandez, Elle Hill, Scarlet Vergel, and senior libero Florencia Curiel banded together to lead the Lady Diamondbacks to victory. Their intensity on both offense and defense eventually wore the Lady Vikings down, culminating in a 17-point final set win.
“This team has always been special. We work well together. Now it’s time. It’s do or die, and we have to work hard to keep advancing,” Curiel said after her team’s Bi-district victory.
“The unity that we have within this team is really special, and I’m excited about the next round…I am so proud of our team. They continue to push each other and get better every day. They are resilient. As we head into the Area Round, we have to focus on playing our game and leaving it all on the court,” Cavazos said about her team ahead of tonight’s Area round matchup.
In tonight’s other Big 7 Area round matchup, the Sharyland Lady Rattlers (38-3, 15-1), District 31-5A Co-Champions and Bi-District Champions, will be taking on the Gregory Portland Lady Wildcats (26-18, 12-4), Bi-District Champions, at 6:00 pm at Falfurrias Middle School.