After two days of pool play during the 19th annual McHi Poundfest on Thursday and Friday, one thing is for certain – District 31-5A is going to be brutal once again.

McAllen High, McAllen Memorial and McAllen Rowe all went undefeated for a second day – 6-0 overall each, and District 31-5A – the SEC of South Texas high school volleyball – combined for a 28-2 record heading into Saturday’s bracket play. All five schools from 31-5A advanced to the championship bracket.

The only two losses for 31-5A came from McHi defeating Edinburg Vela, and McAllen Memorial defeating two-time defending district champion Sharyland High.

At McHi, the Bulldogs won all 12 of the sets they played and looked completely dominant most of the day. Gabby Estringel led a powerful front line, including Karely Cantu and Bella Rivera, while also showing some libero-like diving saves. Head coach Estefania Portillo went deep into her talented bench, and every player performed as needed, as expected or better. Sophomore Mackenzie Davidson also had some impactful play time in the middle, providing MCHi with a big block and additional size at the net

The Bulldogs’ defense, sparked by libero Kaylen Ottmers and defensive specialist Braelyn Martinez also played like their school moniker – Bulldogs – serve receiving and passing well to help setter Yaneli Rocha pick and choose which of her arsenal of hitters to choose from. Rocha also showed that defense shouldn’t fall asleep on her, sneaking in a couple of lefty kills throughout the day.

The Bulldogs found themselves in trouble though on a couple of occasions, trailing Edinburg Vela during the first set but then going on a 10-2 run to clinch that set.  They were on the ropes during the first set against PSJA High, led by blistering attacks from the Bears’ Juliana Guajardo, who found her legs and her swing during that match. However, McHi’s resiliency led them to victory.

Rowe swept through its opponents, seemingly with ease with wins over Harlingen South, Port Isabel and Rio Grande City. Brianna Sanchez led Rowe offensively with 19 kills and Kendyl Keenan added 17. Hailey Gonzalez and Katelynn combined for 20 kills. The Warriors will kick off the championship bracket against Vela at 9 a.m. Saturday on Court 1 at McHi. At the same time, Memorial and Los Fresnos will play on Court 2. Rowe and Memorial could meet in the semifinals, which take place at 11 a.m.

McHi opens its day as the top seed and faces Rio Grande City on Court 1 at 10 a.m., while Harlingen South and Sharyland face off at the same time with the winners playing in the other semifinal at noon. The championship match is slated for 2 p.m.

The Silver bracket will take place at McAllen Memorial and the Bronze bracket will be played at McAllen Rowe.

 

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Reported scores and stats from Monday and Tuesday high school volleyball matches – coaches please send your game scores, stats and record to (956) 821-3834. Thank you!

 

TUESDAY’S GAMES

 

McAllen Rowe def. Harlingen High 25-23, 25-21, 25-22

ROWE: Hailey Gonzalez 11 kills 2 aces, 9 digs; Brianna Sanchez 5 kills,2 aces14 digs; Kendyl Keenan 4 kills, 5 blocks; Katelyn Tarbutton 5 kills, 2 blocks; Audrina Perez 4 kills, 1 digs, 2 blocks; Andrea Gutierrez 2 assists., 1 ace, 10 digs; Lynette Palacios 6 kills, 3 digs, 7 aces1 block.

 

 

 

McAllen Rowe def. Corpus Christi Ray 25-12, 25-7, 25-12

ROWE (2-0):  Leana Palacios  3 aces; Aubry Castro 2 aces; Hailey Gonzalez 4 kills, 5 aces, 3 digs; Brianna Sanchez 4 kills, 3 aces, 6 digs, 1 block; Kendyl Keenan 11 kills, 1 sig, 3 blocks; Katelynn Tarbutton 5 kills; Audrina Perez 5 kills, 1 dig, 2 blocks; Andrew Gutierrez 1 kill, 1 dig, 1 ace; Lynette Palacios 1 kill, 3 aces, 6 digs.

 

 

St. Joseph Academy def. Roma 25-11, 25-13, 25-18

SJA (1-0):  Carmina Tijerina-22 digs; 2 aces; Seanah Mireles 8 kills, 3 blocks,16 assists; Galilea Martinez 7 kills,4 digs; Yvannia Sosa 4 kills, 6 aces, 5 digs; Regina Martinez 5 kills, 2 blocks; Valeria Puig 3 kills,2 aces; Mariana Gonzalez-Paez 9 assists; Skye Hudson 2 kills .

 

Harlingen South def. Brownsville Vets 19-25, 32-30, 25-19, 25-9

SOUTH1 (1-0):  Malloree Mireles 25 kills, 8 digs, 2 blocks; Ella Ramirez 8 kills, 9 blocks; Raeana Lopez 4 kills, 3 digs; Arial Lopez 1 kill; Kaytlynn Rodriguez 2 digs

 

 

Laredo United def. Sharyland 25-16, 18-25, 25-21, 17-25, 15-12

SHARYLAND (1-0): Kenisha Martinez 8 kills, 3 aces; Pamela Pena 17 kills, 2 blocks; Kassandra de la Garza 10 kills, 34 assists, 3 aces; Maria Rodriguez 5 kills, 1 block; Barbara Pena 1 block; Jayleen Berlanga 21 assists.

 

Mission Veterans def. Edinburg High School 22-25, 20-25, 25-10, 25-23, 15-6

MISSION VETS (1-0): Mady Perez 21 kills; 2 aces, 19 digs, 4 blocks; Sophia Pacheco 24 kills, 1 ace, 14 digs; Heather Flores 39 assists, 5 aces, 11 digs; Monika Regalado 5 aces, 11 digs; Kalie Montalvo1 kill, 3 digs, 3 blocks; Delilah Cantu1 ace, 8 digs, 3 blocks

 

Pioneer defeated CC Veterans Memorial 25-20, 25-16, 25-17

PIONEER (2-0): Hailey Botello 18 assists, 11 digs, 2 aces; Florencia Curiel 9 digs, 2 assists; Sofia Chapa 6 digs, 1 ace; Izabella Cano 11 digs, 4 kills, 4 aces, 1 block; Danica Gonzalez 12 digs, 4 kills, 3 aces; Itzel Hernandez 5 kills, 1 block; Scarlet Verjel 10 kills, 2 digs, 1 ace, 1 block; Ava Saenz 2 kills, 1 dig, 1 block; Natalia Gonzalez 1 kill, 1 block

 

Laredo Alexander def. McAllen High 25-17, 25-23, 25-19

McAllen Memorial def. Edcouch-Elsa 31-33, 25-16,25-8

Pioneer defeated Laredo United South 25-22, 25-17, 25-22

Progreso def. La Villa 25-11, 25-19, 25-21

Hidalgo def. Donna 22-25, 17-25, 25-20, 25-9, 15-9

PSJA Southwest def. Hidalgo 26-24, 18-25, 25-17, 25-10

Donna def. PSJA Southwest 25-23, 19-25,m 25-20, 25-14

Edinburg Economedes def. Juarez-Lincoln (no stats or scores provided)

 

 

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Check out the first RGVSports.com Show of the season — looking back at the Fab Four and looking forward with new McAllen Memorial volleyball coach Raul Castillo.

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It’s not often that fans on both sides of a crowded gym stand in eager anticipation for the next play to develop.

It’s a collective deep breath, followed by shouts of excitement and awe, then the anticipation swells again.

That’s what it was like for Brownsville St. Joseph Academy’s Deliany Cortinas during the sub-5A All-Star volleyball game this past season at McAllen High.

Time and again, the 5-11 middle went up and not just attacked but exploded on the ball, oftentimes landing well inside the 10-foot line, bringing those in attendance — either cheering for the West or Cortinas’ East team — to their feet time and again, louder and louder, clearly having the most impressive performance of the day’s three matches.

Many of those friends, family, coaches and others were cheering her again Wednesday at St. Joseph as she signed a full-ride scholarship to play volleyball at Ranger Junior College. She joins Los Fresnos setter Jenna Rios as the second signee to join the Rangers’ volleyball team.

“It’s a great chance to go to a good school and to go with my friend (Jenna), who told me a lot of good things about it,” said Cortinas, who was the RGVSports.com All-Area Sub-5A Volleyball Player of the Year last season. “I need to just keep working hard. This is only the beginning.”

Confidence is now a part of her resume to pair with an obvious escalation of talent. Much of that confidence came from her high school coach, Dolores Olguin-Trevino, her club coaches at Valley Venom and that one day where she was a superstar of All-Stars.

“At first I was, like, it’s not a big deal,” Cortinas said about the All-Star event. “But once I saw the crowd and how loud they were, it was awesome and exciting. I’m so glad I’ve had people supporting me.”

Ranger College volleyball coach Nicole Smith said during a phone interview that she was excited to have Cortinas and Rios added to the roster.

“I’m looking forward to them working and growing, and bringing what they have to Ranger College,” Smith said. “They are two outstanding players who have had great coaches in high school and with the Valley Venom coaches. They’ve done a tremendous job getting these young ladies ready for the next level.

“It has also helped that they’ve played together in club, so they know a lot of what each other can do. We are totally excited about our future and them being a part of it.”

“I’ve been growing in my confidence, and I keep growing up,” Cortinas said. “I’m learning to take those things in the past and use them to become a better person. As time goes, you just need to keep working and learning.”

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If Londyn Sosa ever needed to find inspiration, she didn’t need to look far. Her older sister Madisyn was always nearby.

Throughout her years playing volleyball, Madisyn was probably an inspiration to more people than she’ll ever know. An undersized outside hitter at McAllen Memorial, Madisyn exploded like a rocket blasting off when she left her feet on a kill attempt, facing whatever giants who were trying to shut her down. More often than not, she landed victorious.

She was an inspiration again Wednesday in front of family, friends, teammates, coaches and more as she signed to continue her academic and volleyball career at Oklahoma Christian, an NCAA Div. II program that competes in the Lonestar Conference and is located in Edmond, Oklahoma.

That inspiration, however, didn’t come with the end product — her signing day, but the grueling road she took to find her new home. What she endured her senior season would spell “it’s over” for many athletes.

Not for Madisyn Sosa, however,

Early during the first round of district play, at Sharyland, came back to earth from one of her short leaping flights, and collapsed to the floor – this time when she landed, there were no victories involved, no opposing giants to point at. It was the type of fall where anyone who has seen it before knew immediately – it was a knee, in this case a torn posterior cruciate ligament.

Somehow, she returned to the floor during that match, suffering with three different tears, clearly playing in pain. Her biggest weapons, a high flyer with a big arm and a deadly jump serve, were no good to her.

“I went back in with it torn in three different places. I felt this tingling sensation – everybody was telling me I’m fine but I wasn’t fine —  I tried, but it didn’t really work,” Sosa said.

“After that, I thought I wasn’t going to find a home because I tore my knee and was kind of like a has been,” Sosa said. “After visiting, though, I felt like I found a place I was happy with regardless of that knee injury. I found my home.”

However, she refused to let go of her dream of playing at the next level. She returned to play prior to the postseason and, while starting off tentatively, gained both her strength and confidence back to help Memorial to reach the Sweet 16 for the second time during her four years playing on the Mustangs’ varsity squad.

Sosa and her Mustangs, who finished fourth is in District 31-5A, defeated that same Sharyland squad she got injured playing against during the playoffs, ending the Rattlers’ 43-match win streak (the longest in the state at the time) to reach the Region 5-4A semifinals. Sosa ended the day with 10 kills, 13 digs, and one block. She was closer to being back 100% more than anyone could’ve expected in the short time she was out.

“I felt really wanted there,” Sosa said. “At first I didn’t want to go out of state but I thought I should at least give it a shot and when I went there I really wanted to be there – I knew I had found my new home —  and they have a good nursing program and that’s what I want to be. It all really drew me to the university.”

 

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USA Volleyball has upheld the suspension of Texas Fierce Elite volleyball director Ryan Richardson. This was confirmed by Lone Star regional director Will Vick last week.

“My job is always for the concern and safety of our young athletes, and that’s what we’re doing,” Vick said. “If I make an error in judgement, I’m going to make it on the side of the athlete to keep them safe.”

The extended suspension, which started Feb. 16, according to USA Volleyball, began March 27, 2024, and will continue through Aug. 31, 2024.

“I am extremely surprised by the suspension and disappointed that I have not been given any information regarding what I allegedly did wrong. The safety and security of the athletes that train with Texas Fierce Elite Volleyball is always my primary focus and concern,” Richardson said in an email. “I would never do anything to risk the physical or mental wellbeing of these strong young ladies. So, when Lone Star Region Commissioner Will Vick notified me about the suspension on February 16, 2024, I was shocked, because I had never received any complaints from any one of my players or their parents regarding anything that could have been construed as violating any of the SafeSport Rules or the USA Volleyball Code of Conduct, and Mr. Vick did not provide any information other than to generally reference these regulations.”

Vick said last week that the regional office, which reports to USA Volleyball, was flooded with communications regarding Richardson and the situation, but also had several calls of support for Richardson and his program. He added, however, that USA Volleyball’s job is to make sure that programs are run appropriately and are monitored to stop anything happening before it does.

“Again, our goal again is to keep all the kids safe, that’s it.” Vick said.

The Safe Sport Act requires “sports organizations to establish reasonable procedures to limit one-on-one interactions between an adult and an amateur athletes who is a minor … without being in an observable and interruptible distance from another adult.”

“My immediate reaction was to make a request to Mr. Vick for any evidence he had to justify the suspension, and I specifically requested that he provide me with any statement, complaint, message, text, photo, or screenshot of any activity or communication that he believed violated the rules,” Richardson said in his email. “To this very day, I have received nothing. The procedural and disciplinary rules of USA Volleyball require that any member who is disciplined receive notification of the specific evidence to support the decision, the specific rule that was violated, and an opportunity to appeal the decision to USA Volleyball. Despite numerous attempts on my behalf to get information regarding the allegation against me, to this very day, Mr. Vick has ignored my requests. He has failed to notify me of what I did wrong, he has failed to notify me of what rule I violated, and he has denied me the opportunity to appeal his decision, in violation of the procedural rules of the Lone Star Region and USA Volleyball.

“Mr. Vick passed judgment on me without telling me what I was accused of doing or giving me an opportunity to respond. I have filed a grievance with USA Volleyball for his failure to provide me with basic information during the process, as is required by the Rules, and for his violation of the Lone Star Region Rules and USA Volleyball procedures with regard to disciplinary action.”

Richardson’s name appears on the USA Volleyball website with a pair of violations: “Violation of USAV Code of Conduct, Violation of U.S. Center for SafeSport Conduct.” Richardson’s name, however, did not appear on the SafeSport database as of Monday afternoon.

“I am an enthusiastic proponent of the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) of SafeSport and in the USA Volleyball Code of Conduct, because they are important safeguards to protect our sport and the athletes that make it so great. I have always made a concerted effort in my club to educate my coaches, athletes, and their parents with regard to these rules, and do our best to follow them always,” Richardson said. “When Mr. Vick notified me of my suspension, he mentioned that I ‘appeared’ to be in violation of the ‘Media Rule’ for the MAAPP of SafeSport. I checked, however, and there is no ‘Media Rule’ for SafeSport.

“While this has not affected my club’s success in winning tournaments, as we just won the Big South Qualifer (sic) this weekend in Atlanta Georgia in both 15u and 16u, it has affected my ability to work with my athletes, who are my main concern.”

[email protected]

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Texas Fierce Elite club volleyball coach and director Ryan Richardson has been suspended from coaching duties until further notice.

“He was suspended to things contrary to the rules under the Safe Sport act,” said Will Vick, commissioner of the Lonestar Region under USA Volleyball. “He is being looked at by USA Volleyball. This could be permanent or done away with right away, once I get something back from USA Volleyball.

“Right now, we’re just keeping him away from the girls he’s coaching. I’m getting complaints from parents.”

When asked for a comment, Richardson originally said “I have some things to work out but other than that I don’t know what so no comment.”

Then he texted that he would “love to sit down and talk.”

Vick added the suspension to Richardson included training those players, but added “I’m not going to be looking over my shoulder.”

USA Volleyball communications manager BJ Hoeptner Evans said Wednesday she was not familiar with the situation but asked for an email query so she could find out more on the situation. As of Friday afternoon, she had not returned emails

The Safe Sport Act requires sports organizations to establish reasonable procedures to limit one-on-one interactions between an adult and an amateur athlete who is a minor.

Richardson said he called the Safe Sport Center on two occasions but they responded they had nothing regarding him.

However, Hilary Nemchik, senior director of communications and media relations gave a statement that “The Center does not comment on matters to protect the integrity of our investigative process.” She did add that the center can use discretion in some reports to send it for review to the governing body, in this case, USA Volleyball.

“It’s a far-fetched, pretty horrible thing and claim,” Richardson said. “I’ve gotten emails and stuff I’ll show. Sometimes kids leave and that’s part of the business – we’ll lose two to three kids a season because it’s just not a good fit. That’s just how it works. That will never change, but to retaliate and defame someone’s character is pretty awful.

“I called Safe Sport and I clarified with them that it wasn’t a Safe Sport situation. They told me to call back to clarify but I’ve gotten nothing.”

While there are confirmed communications sent to USA Volleyball and the Lonestar Region regarding Richardson since at least last summer claiming various misconduct situations, the most recent issue seems to have stemmed from a photo Richardson posted on social media. In the photo, Richardson is taking a bathroom selfie while only wearing boxers, which are slightly pulled down on one side and not leaving much to the imagination.

Multiple communications sent to either the Lonestar Region or USA Volleyball have questioned the appropriateness of the photo, whether a coach who trains teen females, should be subjecting them to that type of photo.

Richardson at first said he had never posted anything inappropriate but then added “that was on my private page, after I worked out.”

Roy Stroman, athletic director and head football coach at Weslaco High School has a daughter who trains with Richardson and adamantly said he has never seen anything inappropriate from Richardson.

“Being a high school athletic coordinator and football coach there are things we’ve seen and come across, there are different coaching styles – I know what type of coach Ryan is,” Stroman said. “He is very disciplined and fundamentally sound and he’s tough. But my wife and I are very supportive of his club and drills and teams he has put together.

“We don’t have any problems with anything he does. Not everybody is perfect. There are things I need to work on and I’m sure things he needs to work on. These girls respond to him and plays hard for him and I know at the end of the day they need their coach.”

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Sharyland High volleyball coach Raul Castillo has been named the new McAllen Memorial volleyball coach, approved by the McAllen ISD school board Monday night.

Castillo has been the head coach at Sharyland for 10 years, coming over from Palmview after helping at that school. He took the Sharyland position when current Sharyland Pioneer coach Laura Cavazos left Sharyland to start the program at Sharyland Pioneer after those schools split into two campuses.

Castillo replaces Ashley Doffing, who stepped down almost immediately after this past season concluded. Doffing took the Mustangs to three Sweet 16s in her five years there, continuing a deep playoff run tradition. Memorial has been to the Sweet 16 seven times in the past past 11 seasons, more than any other program in the Valley.

Castillo leaves behind a team that won the past two District 31-5A titles, and reached the Sweet 16 one time, two years ago. The Rattlers held an 88-7 record overall during the past two seasons and were 35-1 in district play during that span.

He said recently that he informed his team he would be applying for the position, so they wouldn’t hear it first from anyone else. The Rattlers return two All-Area superstars for their senior year, outside Kenisha Martinez and setter/hitter Kassandra De La Garza.

Meanwhile, Memorial loses a bulk of its players to graduation, including The Monitor’s 2023-24 All-Area Player of the Year, Amare Hernandez, a Texas A&M commit, and most of its starting six – Hernandez, Madisyn Sosa, Gabby Torres and Leah Garcia, who all started since their freshmen year, are some of the losses, but not all.

Some may find irony in the fact that during the 2022-23 season, Sharyland High won 29 straight before losing to Memorial in a five-set thriller. This past year, the Rattlers carried a 43-match win streak, at the time the longest in the state, when Memorial swept them to advance to the Sweet 16.

During his 10 seasons, Castillo held a 261-140 win-loss record, a .651 winning percentage, that included a shortened 7-8 season when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

This is the fourth coaching change at McAllen High Schools in recent years. Doffing was the first, then Michael Smith replaced Paula Dodge at McAllen High followed by Estefania Portillo taking over the McHi post after Smith left lat the end of last school year.

[email protected]

 

 

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