Highlands soars, sweeps Jefferson
Middle blockers Contreras, Cook set tone in opener
Highlands opened its volleyball campaign with a sweep of Jefferson on Tuesday night in a District 27-5A matchup at Alamo Convocation Center.
The Owls (1-0 overall, 1-0 in district play) prevailed 25-10, 25-21, 25-19. The Lady Mustangs dropped to 0-2 overall and 0-2 in district competition.
The San Antonio Independent School District announced Sept. 1 that in-person volleyball workouts would begin Oct. 5 because of the coronavirus pandemic, some two months later than usual. Highlands coach Desiree Lara said her team made the best of the situation and just pushed on to the debut date.
“We had to just keep on work
ing,” Lara said of the delay. “Whenever our time was called, we had to be ready to compete. We worked hard and were on Zoom for the longest time, for an hour each day.”
Highlands senior middle blocker Chenise Cook, a 2019 first team All-District honoree, led the match with 12 kills and tied with junior middle blocker Brianna Contreras with three blocks. Senior setter Kristyn Canales posted 16 assists and three aces, while Michelle Perales had 13 digs.
The first few points of the opening set were tight until the Owls pulled ahead 13-5. A sixpoint run gave the home team a 19-7 advantage.
The Mustangs fought hard in the second set and came back from a six-point deficit to tie the score at 19. Jefferson pulled to within in two points, 20-22, when Highlands won three of the next four to tale a 2-0 lead.
In the third set, Jefferson opened with a 6-3 lead and later went up 13-12. Highlands won four in a row and led 16-13 before the Lady Mustangs rallied to get to within a point. Jefferson would rally again and closed to 19-22.
But a three-point run gave the Owls the victory.
“The difference in the match was our energy,” said Contreras, a 2019 first team All-District selection. “It could have been a little higher, but we did execute. The ‘battle plan’ for the rest of the season will be our back row.”
Junior outside hitter Jessica Robles paced Jefferson with five digs and five aces while picking up four assists. Junior middle blocker Jessa Torres was tops with three kills.
“We are very young,” Lara said of her team. “A lot of the match was just jitters, but we will work throughout the season. When we were in system, we were able to utilize free-ball play. and it worked well.”
Highlands takes on Memorial in a District 27-5A match at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Edgewood Gym. Jefferson meets Memorial at 7:30 pm. Oct. 28 in a district tilt at the Alamo Convocation Center.