Softball players help Dragons move up to third in 28-5A
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Corpus Christi week suggests, possibly, some time at the beach.
It wasn’t quite one of those for Southwest’s volleyball team, but it is a week the players and coaches can always look back on fondly. The Dragons (16-23, 5-4) defeated two Corpus Christi schools last week to qualify for the postseason and steer themselves onto the right course for the playoffs.
“These two wins have been huge,” Southwest coach Erin Morgal said. “Not only for playoffs, but it has boosted the morale of our team 100 percent. Beating the two Corpus schools gives us a huge boost in our confidence moving forward. Beating one Corpus team at home is huge, but getting to beat both of them in the same week was enormous..”
Southwest, which finished the week in third place in District 28-5A, won 25-23, 14-25, 25-16, 25-20 over Corpus Christi King (13-18, 2-7) last Friday. On Oct. 22, the Dragons and Corpus Christi Carroll () were tied for third before they recorded a 14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14 victory. Both matches were at Southwest.
The King win made Southwest one of nine area teams that will compete in the postseason. Other qualifiers are: Brackenridge (14-24, 10-5), East Central (19-15, 6-2), Harlandale (23-10, 9-3), Highlands (19-19, 12-2), Holy Cross (27-10, 6-3), Jefferson (23-10, 11-4), Providence (12-20, 4-8) and Sam Houston (20-12, 4-4).
Senior Kamerie Vidales led the Dragons with 25 kills against King. Setter Angie Aguilar (career-high 29 assists) and libero Zoe Marin (24 digs) also turned in noteworthy efforts. Yasmin Garcia served two aces.
“Zoe and Angie had great games,” Morgal said. “Zoe has been stepping her game up and has been getting better every match this season. She’s becoming more confident as a libero and her teammates see her effort and it makes them want to give it their all every time they are out there too.
“Angie rose to the occasion on Friday. After not seeing a lot of court time against Carroll on Tuesday, she stepped her game up and was distributing the ball very well. When it came to crunch time she knew where the ball needed to go, and she put it there. It’s going to be exciting to watch her try and push herself to break that (assists) record in the years moving forward.“
In the Carroll match, the Tigers bolted to a 16-8 lead. Southwest closed to 19-11 with a kill from senior middle blocker Kassandra Cruz in the first game. Cassie Valent got a sideout that put the Tigers at game point and Annisa Trevino finished it with a crosscourt kill.
“We definitely got off to a slow start,” Southwest senior defensive specialist/setter Elizabeth Phillips said. “I think, because their bus broke down and they got here later, it took us a little longer to get going. We didn’t have that (spark) when we were warming up. But we came out and did a good job after the first game.”
Game 2 developed point-by-point until Cruz put down a block and Carroll was charged with a net violation, giving Southwest a 9-7 advantage. Two kills from Valent in a three-point span swung the momentum back to the Tigers, which established a 14-11.
Southwest’s solid defense, however, led to Carroll errors and helped the Dragons catch up to tie it 18-18. After another tie, the Dragons took control, thanks to a long point which was extended by a dig from Phillips. Freshman Aashlyn Sulaica (11 kills) finished that point with a kill and Felisha Maldonado added another in the three-point run.
“Normally, we rely on our seniors,” Morgal said, “but it’s nice to know that the younger kids are able to rise to that role. That’s good to know, looking forward. That’s exciting.”
Senior middle blocker Kamarie Vidales ended the set with a kill and the teams were tied at a game apiece. Vidales also put the finishing touches on the match with consecutive kills for the last two points in Game 3.
Morgal pointed to effective hitting on the outside from Sulaica, junior Megan Hernandez, freshman Lindsey Calderon and Maldonado among others, which added up to a varied Southwest attack.
“That took pressure of Kamerie,” she said. “She could start swinging a little more freely. She had nine kills in 15 attempts, so her hitting percentage went up.”
Each of those players is new to the Dragons varsity.
“We have a lot of first-year (varsity) players and they’ve been learning since the beginning of the year,” Morgal said. “They’ve been working and improving. Now, we’re a confident team. Things are coming around.”
Hernandez, who went from junior varsity to a starting role, supplied two consecutive kills that lifted Southwest to a 12-11 lead in Game 3. The junior then put the Dragons at game point (24-19) with third kill of the game.
In the decisive Game 4, Hernandez produced kills that increased Southwest’s lead to 6-1, 13-3 and 20-10. The latter resulted from a pancake dig by Phillips.
“She’s been bringing focus to the position,” Morgal said. “I never worry about her effort or execution. It’s great to see Megan step up and be one of the big people for us. It’s been great.”
Hernandez and Phillips are among four players who also compete for the Dragons’ three-time defending champion softball team. Phillips is the Dragons’ starting center fielder. Hernandez at second base and Brandy Martinez at shortstop form the double play combination. Vidales probably needs no introduction. She’s not only Southwest’s ace pitcher, but one of the best in the region.
“If I didn’t come out (for volleyball), I don’t know what I’d do,” Phillips said. “They’re very different sports, but playing volleyball puts us in good position for softball.”
“Softball is definitely my passion, but I love volleyball.”
The most distinctive trait about the group is that they’re key players in both sports. Vidales has been the Dragons’ kill leader. Phillips contributed 23 digs in a recent match. The group’s diamond experience clearly translates well to the volleyball court.
“We share a lot of players,” Morgal said. “Miranda Medina last year was one of our top outside hitters. What I like about them is that, although they play softball too, when they’re here they give their all to volleyball. I never have to worry about (their commitment).”
Southwest took command of the last two games with extended service runs.
The Dragons ran off eight unanswered points which broke a 12-12 tie in Game 3. The stretch included two kills from Sulaica and one from Vidales. It was reinforced by a pair of back-to-back aces from libero Zoe Marin (17 digs) that made it 20-15.
Southwest never trailed in Game 4 after the first point. A six-point spurt that included two kills and a block from Vidales, as well as a block from Calderon, manufactured a 14-3 advantage. Carroll’s comeback efforts were frustrated by a long rally that ended with a four-hits call against the Tigers and gave Southwest a 22-13 lead. “Coming into this match, since we lost at Carroll,” the third-year Southwest coach said, “we needed to win. I don’t want to come in fourth. I’m not going to be OK with just going to the playoffs. We need to come in second or third, or first.
“Last year we were fourth. This year, we have a pretty good shot at third. We’re going in the right direction.”
Southwest finishes the district season against first-place Steele (25-15, 9-0) at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Cibolo.
“I just want my girls to play their best the can,” Morgal said. “I’ve told them from the beginning of the season that it’s not about winning and losing, it’s about playing the best you can and inspiring your teammates to do the same.
“We got close to taking a set from them the first time around and let it slip through our fingers. If we come out and play that way against Steele this time around, I don’t think that will be the case.”
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