MISSION — Late during the first set of the championship match at the Sharyland Invitational, McAllen Memorial sent three straight free balls over the net to the awaiting Rattlers.
America Hernandez made the Mustangs pay after the third freebie, slamming a kill down the line and helping her team to a 25-22, 25-22 win Saturday at Sharyland Pioneer and the tournament championship in a match between arguably the two top teams in District 31-5A.
With two rosters inundated with big hitters and exciting playmakers, the match came down to what both coaches have talked about throughout the season: making good passes on the first balls to be able to attack with their high-powered offenses.
“Every good kid — like Amare (Hernandez) or (Madisyn) Sosa for Memorial — I tell them you’re not going to stop them every single time. You’re not going to dig every single ball, and that’s OK,” Sharyland head coach Raul Castillo said. “But we’re gonna try to slow it down and get a touch. But we need to return the favor. If they get one, we get one. We can’t let them get two or three or four on us without responding.
“They’re gonna earn their kills, but let’s focus more on us.”
Sharyland led 15-10 during the second set following a block from sophomore Kenisha Martinez. Memorial, however, responded with a 5-0 run with some tough serving by Madison Amaya and a pair of kills from Amare Hernandez.
The teams’ two biggest hitters – Amare Hernandez and Martinez – then traded blow for blow, and Sharyland pulled out in front 21-20. Sharyland followed with three straight points and held off a final last gasp Memorial comeback effort to win the tournament.
Sharyland missed out on the playoffs last year, finishing fifth in the rugged District 31-5A. Castillo said the girls are hungry to return to the postseason and to battle for the district title.
“We showed we can hang with these teams, and I tell the girls to not cut themselves short,” he said. “In this district, everybody is going to swing, everybody is going to block and everybody is going to dig. It’s going to come down to who has the coolest heads.
“We have four seniors on the floor and they want to go to the postseason after missing out. I tell them if we’re going to do this for someone, it’s for them. Last year we fell short, now it’s this year.”
Martinez was named the tournament MVP, and teammates Kassandra de la Garza and America Hernandez were selected to the all-tournament team. Memorial’s Amare Hernandez and Sosa also were named to the all-tourney team.
Sharyland advanced with a three-set win over Sharyland Pioneer, and Memorial advanced with a straight-set victory over Harlingen High.
