Coach – Daya Venegas, Brownsville Pace

Brownsville Pace head coach Daya Venegas was proud to coach a District 32-5A title team, especially with the group of girls she had.

Venegas led the Vikings to a 31 season that was capped off by a district title. Venegas said she grew a lot as a coach, like any season, and was able to do with talented seniors and underclassmen – a different journey, she said.

“Team bonding and developing chemistry was an instrumental part of our success, and coaching requires us to grow in the emotional and relationship aspect of the sport,” Venegas said.

Venegas also said it takes a good team to win games, but it takes a village to win a district title, and the Vikings had that – great players, supportive parents, a solid coaching staff, and a wonderful fan base.

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Sub-5A MVP – Deliany Cortinas, Brownsville St. Joseph

Brownsville St. Joseph’s Deliany Cortinas had an outstanding senior year that could not have ended better for the Lower Valley’s sub-5A MVP.

After helping Brownsville St. Joseph to a playoff appearance out of a challenging TAPPS district, the senior held her own against a tough Katy St. John XXIII and then balled out in the all-star game.

“At the beginning, the season started a little out of place, but my coaches were always there and got the best out of me mentaly and physically,” Cortinas said. “I know in each game that I gave it my everything.”

Cortinas finished the season with 354 kills, 168 digs, 68 aces and 96 blocks.

 

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Newcomer of the Year – Sophia Saiz, Brownsville Pace

It is expected for more-seasoned club players to have somewhat of an impact as a freshman, but Sophia Saiz made more than just an impact. She was a key player to the Vikings capturing a District 32-5A title.

Saiz, a setter, had 555 assists, 298 digs, 79 aces and 411 kills. If the freshman was not setting up senior Andie Lozano-Lomeli, she was finishing off offensive plays herself from the outside hitter position.

The freshman said that she learned a lot this season and is ready to be a leader on the team in the upcoming years and head coach Daya Venegas also echoed that sentiment that will have fans and youth players excited to watch the next three years.

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Utility Player of the Year – Jakeida Ibarra, San Benito

The Greyhounds captured a District 32-6A title for the first time in decades and a key part of the success was the all-around play of senior Jakeida Ibarra.

Ibarra, a senior captain for the Greyhounds, was one of the better defensive players for her team while also acting as one of the best hitters on a team that gained a lot of momentum during district play that carried on to win important games.

Ibarra said it was honor to be a part of team that was able to create history in San Benito. And even though she is graduating, expects the Greyhounds to be a top team in district next season.

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Setter of the Year – Jenna Rios, Los Fresnos

Los Fresnos senior Jenna Rios continued where she left off last season to pick up the setter of the year award in back-to-back seasons.

Rios, also the back-to-back District 32-6A setter of the year, had a standout career with over 2,000 career assists.

The senior setter has eyes on colleges and her teammates this season by providing 971 assists and showed her versatility as a setter with 353 digs and 87 aces.

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Libero of the Year – Bryanna Narvaez, Brownsville Pace

Not many teams took sets off Brownsville Pace this season, the Vikings only dropped eight sets in its District 32-5A title winning season, and at the heart of the defense was senior Bryanna Narvaez.

Narvaez finished with 469 digs this season and also kept the ball in system to help ensure that the hitters on the Vikings had chances. Brownsville Pace went on to win 31 matches with Narvaez in the middle of the back row.

“If we do not have a good pass, we can’t really run the offense,” Narvaez said. “So, I think I did play a big role on the team.”

Brownsville Pace head coach Daya Venegas said Narvaez improved her serve receiving drastically this season, was key to the success and will be missed next season.

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Malloree Mireles, junior, Harlingen South

Harlingen South junior Malloree Mireles, had another stellar season to help the Hawks back into the playoffs after missing out last season.

Mireles has over 800 career kills for the Hawks. The junior said she was happy with her power kills this season. Mireles was award the district’s opposite of the year because of her lethal left hand.

Mireles is putting the district on watch next season and is hoping for a special season that includes a gold ball.

Shiloh Jones, senior, Los Fresnos

Jones, a senior at Los Fresnos, was the go-to-hitter for the Falcons and stepped up hugely to help her team to a bi-district playoff victory.

Jones, the District 32-6A MVP, finished the season with 526 kills and over 1,000 career kills. Jones also had 36 aces and is committed to Blinn College.

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(Note: Check back throughout the next few days for stories on all of the RGVSports.com All-Area and All-Star winners)

The House of Pain, Brownsville Pace’s gym, was alive this volleyball season, even on a quiet Saturday afternoon because of a special team and a very special player, Andie Lozano-Lomeli.

The Brownsville Pace senior middle stole the show this season to help lead the Vikings to a District 32-5A title, the first district title in 20 years, and doing so as a humble leader with an infectious personality and a strong middle presence that terrorized opposing defenses.

Lozano-Lomeli is The Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star MVP for the 2023 season.

Not many athletes can make an impact on a program like Lozano-Lomeli has done for Brownsville Pace, and not just this season, but in her four years.

Most volleyball matches on a Saturday tend to not draw the largest crowds, usually attended by family members, a few old timers and maybe some football players catching the action after receiving similar treatment from Friday night games.

However, with Lozano-Lomeli, there was always a decent crowd on those usually quiet noon matches, but especially on Tuesday night to see Brownsville Pace’s best team in 20 years, but to also witness the city’s best hitter.

After the match, the middle hitter would be surrounded by starstruck younger volleyball seeking photos with their favorite player. Lozano-Lomeli relished in the opportunity to be an example to the youth looking up to her.

“I grew up at Pace because my mom has worked there my whole life, so I was always around the gym watching the older girls and envisioning the possibilities of my future,” Lozano-Lomeli said.

“They were and are a constant reminder of what I wanted to be. This is why it’s so full circle for me to be a role model for the younger girls, as I feel I can inspire them to grow.

“Another factor of growing in the Viking community is I have lots of school pride, which is why being MVP this year means so much. I got the opportunity to represent my school and community through volleyball, it’s important to own where you are from and represent your past.”

Lozano-Lomeli had the opportunities to play at other schools, but wanted to represent her home and because of this learned to work hard and not necessarily go the easier route, she said.

The senior could have easily sat out as a freshman or sophomore, or even as a junior and played at a different school, but at Brownsville Pace she helped a team that had not had much recent success into becoming a top team in the Brownsville area along with Brownsville Veterans, Brownsville Rivera and Los Fresnos.

Lozano-Lomeli finished this season with 458 kills, 101 digs, 68 total blocks and 28 aces. The senior was crucial late in sets and important in clashes with district rivals.

Being a key player in the Valley this season gave Lozano-Lomeli plenty of confidence in those moments, she said. The senior provided a meeting at Harlingen South as an example of having to step up.

Lozano-Lomeli is quick to credit her teammates and her coach Daya Venegas for her success. Venegas added plays this season to enhance Lozano-Lomeli’s talents.

“She will be a difficult player to replace, not only due to her talent but also due to her humble leadership. She is one who always leads by example, motivates, and binds a team together,” Venagas said.

Venegas added that Lozano-Lomeli’s passion for the sport and pride in her school is contagious, and that coupled with her intelligence and inviting spirit makes her a role model to many.

“Whenever we had camps or visited the feeding schools, she doesn’t hesitate to speak on behalf of the program, and you can see the look in the younger girls’ eyes, eager to one day be just like her,” Venegas said.

Lozano-Lomeli became a better athlete because of her community, team, family and coaches she said and hopes to become an even better one playing college volleyball.

The senior middle is committed to Texas Lutheran University.

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