Pearsall matches 2023 win total after first tournament

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | August 21, 2024

PEARSALL LADY MAVS VOLLEYBALL

Lady Mavs open 2024 season with 2-4 mark.

Pearsall matched its win total from last season in the first week of play this season but new head coach Juan Soliz hopes its just the beginning of the improvement for his volleyball Lady Mavs this season.
“The girls are adjusting to my system well and are getting better every practice and game,” he said. “Kristen Morales and Jesslyn Gutierrez are this year’s team captains and Marissa Juarez and Chanelle Longoria are really doing a great job up at the net.
“Defensively, freshmen Jalyssa Vasquez has really stepped it up and is doing great,”
Pearsall opened the 2024 season last Tuesday, August 13 at home against Bandera and dropped a 9-25, 15-25, 15-25 decision.
Juarez led the team with four kills and three blocks while Saray Melendez added three kills. Morales tallied four assists while Jeralynn Gutierrez had a pair of aces.

The Lady Mavs then participated in tournament action at Natalia over the weekend and went 2-3 at the event.
Pearsall opened with a 14-25, 14-25 loss to Medina but rallied to beat the Floresville junior varsity 24-26, 26-24, 25-15.
Morales had a solid outing with seven kills and nine assists while Chanelle Longoria added four kills and four blocks. Alayna Zapata had four assists and Jalyssa Vasquez had an ace in the win.
In a battle of Frio County rivals, Dilley took a 25-14, 15-25, 25-16 win on Friday. Morales was active once again with eight kills and two assists. Juarez added three kills and Zapata tallied seven assists and four aces.
Natalia would claim a 25-14, 25-18 decision over Pearsall on Friday. Gutierrez led the offense with two kills while Zapata added two assists and two aces. Morales also pitched in a pair of assists.
In the tournament finale, Pearsall was able to put things together to collect a 25-15, 25-19 decision over Knippa.
Morales was all over the court once again with two kills, five assists and two aces. Longoria added three kills, Juarez had three blocks and Zapata also added two aces.
Pearsall went 2-4 for the year following tournament play, matching its win total from last season.
The team was at San Antonio Memorial Tuesday evening for a non-district contest and will be in action at the Sabinal Tournament August 22-24. The girls return home Tuesday, August 27 to host the Lady Wolves.