Harlandale’s impressive playoff run ends in area round

In their district seasons, most teams play two matches each week. Harlandale ended up with a heavier workload.

Like most San Antonio volleyball teams, the Indians (11-5) started their season a little late. But it wasn’t long before they had another unscheduled setback.

Harlandale entered quarantine after winning District 28-5A matches over Eagle Pass Winn Sept. 29 and losing in five games to district 28-5A champion Medina Valley (20-3, 14-0) Oct. 2. The Indians didn’t play again for 18 days, and had to make up all the matches that were postponed during that time.

“We played three matches a week for a month,” Harlandale coach Anna Castro said. “It was a long four weeks. It really left us short on practice time. We really did a crash course (in preparation for) every team.

“We had to rely on our mental and physical toughness.”

Between another loss to Medina Valley Oct. 27 and one to runner-up McCollum (12-3, 12-2) Nov. 13, Harlandale won seven-consecutive matches to compile a 10-4 district record. That stretch included a pair of wins fifth-place Southwest, including a five-game victory Nov. 6 and a sweep Nov. 13, which returned Harlandale to the playoffs after a one-year absence.

“We were down 2-0 and ended up winning in five games,” Castro said of the second Southwest match. “They had a lot to play for, and so did we. We were able to pull through, and that clinched it for us.”

Harlandale swept Burbank (7-2) 25-21, 25-17, 25-19 in its bi-district match Nov. 20 at Harlandale. New Braunfels Canyon (23-1) defeated the Indians 25-8, 25-12, 25-9 Nov. 24 at Steele in the area round. It was the 19th-consecutive win for the Cougars, ranked No. 2 in Texas Girls Coaches Association state 5A poll..

“Canyon was powerful everywhere,” Castro said. “They were bigger than us at every position. We knew it was going to be a tough match. They had an answer for everything we tried.”

Harlandale and Highlands were the only area Class 5A teams that advanced to the area round. Both were eliminated in that round.

New Braunfels Canyon scored the first nine points in Game 1 and the first eight in Game 3. In Game 2, the Cougars scored 13 of the last 17 points.

Harlandale statistics from the match were unavailable.

Against Burbank, sisters Kassandra Morin (17 digs) and Lee-Andra Morin (11 assists, 7 digs) led Harlandale. Serina Hernandez and Chansity Villarreal logged 11 kills apiece.

Cayla Reyes contributed 20 assists, eight kills, three aces and four digs. Grace Pacheco (12 digs) and Carisma Abundis (9 digs) were Indians defensive standouts.

“The girls were happy because they missed the playoffs last year,” Castro said. “Having a home match, the atmosphere was amazing. We knew we had to hang with them. The girls wanted to win that match at home.”

Kassandra Morin and Tiana Medina are the only starters the Indians will lose to graduation.

“We’re in this district for another year, and we’ll have a lot of girls back,” Castro said, “but they’ll have to step up. We know we can compete, but we have to be better as we get into the playoff run.”