Lady Tarpons prevails in 3-team Play-In tournament, advancing to playoffs. October 27, 2026. Picture by PIHS
By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
With their backs against the wall, the Port Isabel Lady Tarpons volleyball team raised their level of play down the stretch, finishing the regular season on a high note by winning four out of their last five matches.
All eyes turned to the season finale against La Feria, the matchup had huge implications as a win by Port Isabel would create a logjam for the district 32-4A’s final playoff spot.
This past Saturday, Oct. 24, the Port Isabel Lady Tarpons managed to come from behind to defeat the La Feria Lady Lions in an exciting five-set match.
After dropping the first two sets, 13-25 and 16-25, the Lady Tarpons refused to back down, winning the next three sets 26-24, 25-14, and 15-13 to set a three-way tie for the fourth and final playoff spot along with La Grulla and La Feria.
On Tuesday, Oct 27, the three teams met in Edcouch-Elsa to compete in a Play-In mini-tournament to determine which team would advance to the 2026 volleyball playoffs.
The opening match pitted La Grulla against La Feria, with the winner advancing to face Port Isabel in the final round. The grueling contest went the distance, lasting all five sets, before the Lady Gators emerged victorious, 3-2.
In the final Play-In match, the Lady Tarpons left it all on the court, battling the Lady Gators in another five-set thriller. Port Isabel rose to the challenge, securing the win, 3-2, and punching their ticket to the volleyball playoffs.
In other district playoff seeding news, Valley View swept Edcouch-Elsa 3-0, to secure the district’s No.1 seed heading into the playoffs. Meanwhile, Zapata had already clinched the third seed.
The 4A Division 1 Bi-District playoff matchups are: Valley View versus Alice, and Edcouch-Elsa versus Calallen.
The 4A Division 2 Bi-District playoff matchups are: Port Isabel versus Tuloso-Midway, and Zapata versus Beeville Jones. Game details TBD.
On a side note, Tuloso-Midway finished in second place in District 31-4A team standings with their last match being a 3-0 win over Alice.