Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Miller carries district banner against SA Holmes

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Friday, November 5, 1999

Miller carries district banner against SA Holmes
28-5A's last survivor tries to break postseason stigma in area playoff
By Stu Duncan
Caller-Times

There is more at stake for the Miller High School varsity volleyball team today than a Class 5A area championship.
   The Lady Buccaneers are out to prove that Corpus Christi teams can compete with the state's established volleyball programs when they travel to Three Rivers today to play San Antonio Holmes at 6 p.m.
   CCISD volleyball teams have yet to win a playoff match in their two years of existence. That trend continued last Tuesday when Carroll and King fell in bi-district playoff matches. Miller, which received a bi-district bye, is District 28-5A's last hope this season.
   The Lady Buccaneers lost in the bi-district playoff round last year but Miller volleyball coach Joni Luna hopes their success this season will push the team into the regional quarterfinals this season. Miller would play the San Antonio Clark-San Antonio East Central winner in the quarterfinals.
   The Lady Bucs (16-7 overall and 12-0 in district) capped an unbeaten District 28-5A season and the volleyball program's first district title last week by defeating Carroll in three games.
   Luna said a Miller victory against San Antonio Holmes (26-9), the third place team in District 26-5A, would benefit every volleyball player in the district. "It would let the girls in Corpus Christi know that they're not as far behind as people think they are," Luna said. "I think our schools still get intimidated once we leave Corpus. It will take heart, dedication and desire to compete at that level and we've got the athletes to do it."
   Luna said the players have focused on the mental game this week. She said the Lady Bucs held a team meeting at a recent practice and wrote her poem, focusing on teamwork and becoming "the intimidator."
   Luna knows the Huskies well. She said she coached Holmes players Margie Goble Megan Johnson and Krista Moean when they were in eighth grade.
   Luna said a warm-up match against Calallen last Saturday helped the Lady Bucs prepare for Holmes.
   "We are where we need to be," Luna said. "Holmes and Calallen are similar to one another in that they've had volleyball at their schools for years. We are more confident going into playoffs this year. The kids are ready."
   Taft (27-5) also received a bi-district bye in the Class 3A playoffs. The Lady Greyhounds, who went 10-0 in District 30-3A matches this season, will play its first playoff game of the season Saturday when they meet Falfurrias at 3 p.m. in Agua Dulce.
   Taft first-year volleyball coach Tom Chrobocinski guided Rockport-Fulton to the Class 4A volleyball playoffs last year. Chrobocinski said the Lady Greyhounds have overcome a lack of height - their tallest player is 5-foot-7 - this season with crisp passing, strong defensive play and fundamental volleyball.
   Chrobocinski said twins Eileen Rivera and Arleen Riviera, Becky Riojas, Joyce Wolfe, Melanie Cerda and Nikole Rodriguez have contributed significantly to the team's undefeated run in district.
   "I think we feel real confident because of that (the unbeaten district mark)," Chrobocinski said, "but we have to forget about that. That got us into the playoffs but that's history. This is our next season."
   Other volleyball playoff matches Saturday involving area teams include:

Calallen vs. San Antonio Holmes at 4:30 p.m. in Beeville

Beeville vs. Pleasanton at 6 p.m. in Three Rivers

George West vs. Lyford at 5 p.m. in Ingleside

Refugio vs. Three Rivers at 2 p.m. in Beeville

Riviera vs. Jourdanton at 7 p.m. in Mathis
   Playoff Tickets
   Tickets for tonight's Class 5A area varsity volleyball playoff match between Miller and San Antonio Holmes at Three Rivers High School will be $3 for adults and $1 for students with proper identification. District 26-5A and 28-5A passes and THSCA and TGCA will be honored. The match is scheduled for 6 p.m.
   Tickets for Saturday's Class 4A regional quarterfinal varsity volleyball match between Calallen and San Antonio Sam Houston at Beeville High School will be $3 for adults and $1 for students. The match is set for 4:30 p.m.

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