By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Wednesday, May 31, the Lady Tarpons hosted a small three-team tournament which included Port Isabel, Rio Hondo and Brownsville Jubilee.
The first game pitted the Port Isabel Lady Tarpons against the Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats. In the first match, the Lady Tarpons jumped out to a 2-0 early lead, but the Lady Cats came back to tie it at 3-3. Behind the serving of PI’s Juliana Leon, PI went on a small run to make it 8-3 in favor of the Lady Tarpons. Port Isabel tacked on another three points under the serving of Kimberly Barrera as PI they extended their lead to 15-6.
The Lady Cats chipped away at PI’s lead, but the Lady Tarpons still held on to a 19-17 lead. PI was making small mistakes as the Lady Cats tied the game at 20-20. PI then regained the lead 21-20. PI’s Barrera rotated back to serving and scored on an “ace”. Unfortunately, the point was inadvertently awarded to the Lady Cats as the game was now tied at 21-21.
A hit out of bounds by PI gave Rio Hondo their first lead of the game as they led 22-21. PI retook a 24-23 lead, but the Lady Cats tied it back at 24-24. A thundering spike by PI’s Milah Delgado gave PI a 25-24 lead, but on the next play Rio Hondo managed to tie the game once again.
A service fault by the Lady Cats gave PI the 26-25 lead. With game point on the line, PI’s Emily Burrage served the ball into play. Rio Hondo returned the ball, but was unable to return it a second time as Delgado closed out the match with another spike.
In the second match, PI got off to a good start as they built an early 5-1 lead. Heavy action at the net as PI’s Emily Burrage rejected a spike attempt. Then on the next play, a successful spike by PI’s Valery Gonzalez gave PI a 7-2 lead. Rio Hondo ended PI’s small run as the score was now 9-3 in favor of Port Isabel.
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