LADY FALCONS WIN BATTLE OF UNBEATENS, TAKE LEAD IN DISTRICT 32-6A

by Wade Sales

LOS FRESNOS—In front of over 1000 spectators that packed the Los Fresnos High School Gym, the Lady Falcon volleyball team controlled the action in a dominating performance, defeating the Brownsville Veterans Lady Chargers in 4 sets, 24-26, 25-15, 25-14, 25-15. With this victory, the Lady Falcons move to 6-0 in district play (26-9 overall) and maintain their overall #1 Rio Grande Valley ranking, as per RGVSports.com.

After defeating Brownsville Rivera in straight sets earlier in the week, all eyes focused on the biggest game of the district season. The Lady Chargers entered the matchup with an unblemished 5-0 district record, as well as a Top-10 Valley ranking. The two teams shared a district championship in 2013 with equal 15-1 district records, each of them winning on the other’s home court and sweeping their other district rivals. The Lady Falcons wanted to hold serve on their home court this year, and they controlled the action from the opening serve.

The Lady Falcons raced out to a 7-point lead in all four sets with great serving from Peyton Sales, Alex Cano, and Alex Moya. In the first set, the Lady Falcons stretched their lead to 18-12, before the Lady Chargers made an impressive run. A return error by the Lady Falcons allowed the game to be tied at 20, and the capacity crowd let the teams hear their enthusiasm. The teams traded the next few points, until a kill by Sam Ibarra gave the Lady Falcons a 24-23 lead. On set point, the Lady Chargers defense was superb, picking up some hard hits, and a Lady Falcon hitting error ultimately tied the score again at 24. Riding that momentum, the Lady Chargers scored the next two points and closed out the first set with a 26-24 victory, as the sizable Brownsville Veterans crowd roared their approval.

The Lady Falcons had not lost a set in 8 matches, a total of 22 straight sets in all. After letting a big lead evaporate in the first set, the Lady Falcons came out determined to not allow that to happen again. They stormed to a huge 16-4 lead behind the superb play of Joseline Caraveo, who had 6 kills in the second set alone. The dominating performance leveled the match at one set a piece when the Lady Falcons closed out the set with a 25-15 score. It was more of the same in the third set, with the back row play of Moya and Jackie Kingsbury allowing easy sets by Sales and Miranda Gonzalez to the middle and outside hitters of the Lady Falcons. The Lady Chargers made a brief rally to close within 16-12, but the Lady Falcons closed on a 9-2 run to finish the third set with a comfortable 25-14 margin.

With the momentum clearly on the Lady Falcons side, the huge partisan crowd turned up the volume to cheer on the Lady Falcons. The team was firing on all cylinders, as they put on a clinic on team volleyball. A dominant early lead in the 4th set led to an impressive, 25-15 4th set victory, and a district match won, 3 sets to 1. Joseline Caraveo was unstoppable from the outside hitter position, notching 18 kills. Sam Ibarra added 12 kills and 4 tremendous blocks at the net. Jackie Kingsbury used her court instincts to constantly put the ball where the Lady Chargers were not, smashing and dinking her way to another 11 kills. Alex Cano blasted 6 kills during the match, and Jordan Martinez contributed another 5 kills from her right-side position.

Alex Moya returned to the lineup and anchored the back line of defense with superb play, contributing 22 digs and numerous beautiful passes to the setters. The lead setter on the team, Peyton Sales, had another tremendous all-around game, dishing out a season-high 35 assists, while also contributing 5 kills and 4 aces. Miranda Gonzales also had a fine evening, distributing the ball around the court and chipping in 14 valuable assists. The rest of the team members (Cristen Lumbreras, Liz Ramirez, Cassie Parra, and Gisele Ibarra) have contributed all year, and tonight was no different in their supporting of their teammates. Congratulations, Lady Falcons!

The Lady Falcons move their overall record to 26-9, 6-0 in district, and they have taken over the district lead. There is one more district match-up against Brownsville Hanna in the first round of district play, and then the second round of district play begins with Brownsville Lopez. Good luck to the team, and come out and support the Lady Falcons!