By Coach Lonnie Flippen, VISD
The Junior High Valentine Pirates volleyball team, (the Fabulous Five), continue to improve as the season begins to wind down. The Lady Pirates travelled to Alpine last week to match up against the Lady Wildcats from Wink. As has been reported over the last few weeks, the “invisible” player in the rotation really hurt the team again as the Pirates have to give up the serve, and a point, each time that that open spot appears in the rotation. The Pirates lost the first game to Wink by a score of 25-23 – the invisible player dubbed “Ida”, cost the Pirates an opportunity to win the first game.
The Pirates came roaring back to defeat the Wildcats 25-16 in the second game and then fell in a hard-fought third game by a score of 28-26 with “Ida” having an impact once again. Mickey Siddiq led the Lady Pirates scoring 8 straight points in the third game giving the girls and opportunity to take two from the Lady Wildcats.
The Pirates travelled to Marfa Tuesday to take on the Lady Shorthorns and won the first two games 25-21 and 25-19 with seventh grader Jordan Miller and sixth grader Claudia Figueroa playing great games. Miller scored 14 points on her serves with Figueroa adding five points on serves in the first two games. A third game went to the Lady Shorthorns by a score of 25-18 but the young Pirates were in the game most of the way.
Bela Oldham and Isabel Guillory played well for the Pirates on both dates. Everyone has improved so much throughout the year. Their hard work and determination to compete as a team has been evident in every game throughout the year.
The Lady Pirates will close out their season as the travel to Grandfalls on October 17 and then host the Lady Indians from Fort Davis on October 24. The young ladies will then travel to Wink October 28 for the District Tournament.
