By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
McALLEN, TX—The San Benito Lady Greyhounds opened their 2026-27 varsity volleyball season with a tri-match against the host Nikki Rowe Lady Warriors and the visiting Brownsville Pace Lady Vikings.
The matches provided an early glimpse of what San Benito Head Coach Ruby Medina has to do to enhance strengths and address weaknesses.
San Benito opened play against Pace, falling 14-25, 25-23, 10-15. Against Rowe, the Lady ‘Hounds lost 13-25, 18-25. The Lady ‘Hounds lost both matches. Pace won all its matches, and Rowe was tied.
Coach Medina feels the team has the opportunity to continue improving from last season. The Lady ‘Hounds, including a bi-district match, finished 13-21 in 2025. It was a vast improvement from their 5-22 campaign in 2024.
“The matches at Rowe were eye-opening, giving our coaches a sense of where we are as a team and what we need to work on,” Coach Medina said. “I was impressed seeing them on the court. We did have the girls play well in some instances, and they shone in others.”
Juniors Kalista Olivares and Annalise Rodriguez are outside hitting returnees. Coach Medina has Olivares playing in the middle and back row, so the 5-foot-9 veteran is seeing all-around action.
Rodriguez is on the right side because she is a lefty, and she will play all around the court, too.
Coach Medina expects more from them than he did a year ago.
“They’re both going to be our go-to players, and we have an addition to our team in freshman Madelynn Mendoza, whom we hope will be another vital part of our team,” Coach Medina said of the third outside hitter.
San Benito High School (SBHS) will play in the Donna Tournament from Thursday, Aug. 13, through Saturday, Aug. 15.
The Lady ‘Hounds are scheduled to play Edcouch-Elsa, Laredo Cigarroa, and IDEA Quest.
SBHS has an open date on Aug. 18. The team will follow that up with an entry in the Brownsville ISD Tournament from Aug. 20-22.
The Lady ‘Hounds’ first home match will be on Sept. 1, when they host the Brownsville Hanna Lady Eagles, who are no longer in their district.
Stats for the Lady ‘Hounds are as follows: SBHS vs. Pace — Valeria Enriquez 1 kill, 1 ace; Annalise Rodriguez 3 kills, 1 ace; Kalista Olivares 9 kills, 1 block; Madelynn Mendoza 8 kills; Liennai Allen 6 kills; Camila Guajardo 17 digs; Isabella Gonzalez 8 digs, 1 ace; Analie Mosqueda 1 kill.
SBHS vs. Rowe — Valeria Enriquez 1 kill; Annalise Rodriguez 3 kills, 1 ace; Kalista Olivares 4 kills; Madelynn Mendoza 4 kills, 1 ace; Liennai Allen 1 kill; Camila Guajardo 8 digs; Isabella Gonzalez 6 digs.