Rattlers top Bulldogs in battle of 31-5A titans
District 31-5A rivals Sharyland High and McAllen High needed all five sets to determine a winner as the Rattlers emerged victorious against the Bulldogs, 25-20, 25-17, 19-25, 17-25, 15-10, on Saturday at Sharyland High School in Mission.
Sharyland’s win avenges its earlier district loss at the hands of McHi as the Bulldogs swept the Rattlers, 25-22, 25-17, 25-15, on Sept. 3 at McAllen High School.
This time around, the Rattlers (34-3) dealt the Bulldogs (24-11) their first defeat in district play and are now tied for the top spot in 31-5A with identical 9-1 district records.
“It just comes down to experience, that’s what’s really helped this team,” Sharyland head coach Lydia De Leon said of her Rattlers’ squad. “You watch my seniors and they’re staying calm and collected and I think that’s what helps the team stay calm and collected as well.”
Sharyland seniors Kenisha Martinez and Kassandra De La Garza are both four-year lettermen who have been battle-tested throughout their high school careers.
On Saturday, the two playmakers stepped up time and time again to help secure the five-set victory for Sharyland.
The pair was also recognized for their individual statistical accomplishments after Saturday’s win as Martinez reached 1,500 career digs and 2,000 career kills, while De La Garza hit 2,500 career assists and 1,000 career digs.
While the pair enjoyed their moment following the game, the most important number for the Rattlers on Saturday was going 1-0 against the Bulldogs to pull even at the top of the District 31-5A standings with eight games remaining in the regular season.
“We knew that we were playing as if we had nothing to lose. We just wanted to play out and give it our all,” De La Garza said.
The Rattlers came out red-hot on Saturday to take the first two sets 25-20 and 25-17. Sharyland’s seniors Martinez, De La Garza and sophomore Pamela Peña opened on fire to build a two-set lead.The Bulldogs never backed down, however, playing lights out defensively to take sets three and four 19-25 and 17-25 with juniors Gabby Estringel, Yaneli Rocha and senior Karely Cantu leading the charge.
With everything on the line in the fifth set, the Rattlers closed the show with four-straight points off kills from Martinez and De La Garza and two McHi hitting errors to lock up a 15-10 win in the decisive fifth set. De La Garza sent home the game-winning kill right in the middle of the Bulldogs’ defense.
“The game isn’t over until it hits 15 or 25 and we’re going to fight til the end,” Martinez said of Sharyland’s five-set victory. “We’ve been working really hard for this and both teams wanted it. It feels so good that me and my teammates accomplished this. We still have to push more, we still have more games ahead, and everything wants the same thing that we also want, so it just feels really nice to be able to tie it up for first place, as well.”
