Sharyland Pioneer, however, looks like it’s prepared for the postseason.
With an offense and defense that moved like synchronized swimmers in glorious rhythm, but also with the intense ability to attack like frenzied sharks in that same water, the Diamondbacks on Friday showed why they are considered among the best teams in South Texas.
Led by the deft touch of ever-dangerous senior setter Natalie Reyes, ferocious middle-hitter/blocker Lorelai Hill and a cast of teammates who are much more than supporting players, the Diamondbacks won all three of their matches in powerful fashion during Friday’s pool play in the Mission Varsity Volleyball Tournament at the Mission High gym.
Pioneer was placed in what arguably could be tagged the “group of death,” a pool that contains more powerhouses than available slots to advance and is a common phrase in major soccer tournaments. Pioneer was matched with Edinburg High, Harlingen High and La Joya Juarez-Lincoln in their pool. Pioneer, Edinburg and Harlingen are all considered among the front-runners for their respective district titles.
The Diamondbacks swept them all and showed the complete package, from aggressive serves to solid defense and powerful attacks from pin to pin, especially succeeding in the middle with Hill and fellow middle hitter/blocker Jordan Bravo.
Reyes is the key to Pioneer’s fast-moving offense, which likely will only get faster throughout the year. Her sets are on point and she highlighted her team’s varied offense with high, quick, shoot and a variety of two sets — essentially the entire spectrum. Often, she would set a ball from pin to pin, low and with enough speed to keep the blockers off guard and a half-step behind their block. If those blockers left her too early, Reyes would find that opening and send the ball over into the gap, forcing the blockers to stay and be late on the block.
The defense played near-flawless — not just picking up monster attacks from the likes of Edinburg High’s Jazmin Cuellar and Natalie Hernandez, or Harlingen High’s Juli Bryant and windmill-swinging Casey Vidal, but they would also get them into a good enough spot to counterattack.
Still, the offense runs through Reyes and one coach who was scouting the match said Reyes controls not just her side of the court, but both sides.
A four-year starter at setter, Reyes has found connections with each of her hitters, especially in the middle with Hill, Bravo and junior Marcela Martinez, who was not available for Friday’s matches.
“I’ve worked with Lorelai all year during club,” Reyes said. “I love that she’s so vocal, so confident in herself, so persistent and so consistent. It makes it much easier to connect.”
Reyes was The Monitor’s 2019 All-Area Setter of the Year and the 2018 All-Area Newcomer of the Year. She replaced Pioneer’s Audrey Smith, who signed her national letter of intent to play for Texas Tech. Reyes slid right in the following season.
“There’s a very big difference since my freshman year, my sets were so high,” she said. “Was looking at film and everything has changed so much. I’m humbly thankful and proud of how much work I’ve put in and having so many different caliber of players and my coaches. They’ve molded me to keep a different mindset.”
Gold bracket play begins at 9 a.m. today at Mission High. The championship match is scheduled for 2 p.m., also at Mission High, where the silver bracket plays also at t... Click here to read full article
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