There are quite a few noticeable changes when attending a La Joya HS volleyball game this season. The first obvious difference is that the Lady Coyotes are playing all home games at the Abraham Lincoln Building Gymnasium. Due to major repairs at their usual venue, the La Joya HS Gymnasium, the team has relocated all practices and games to the nearby gym. Coyote fans haven’t let the change in scenery bother them, as the Coyote faithful continue to show up and support the volleyball program.
Another recent change is the introduction of Lady Coyote volleyball's new head coach, Rene Zamora. Coach Zamora, who took over the program in early August, has taken charge and hit the ground running. “God has been a part of what transpired in early August!” said Zamora. He added, “Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be a head volleyball coach.” Zamora is no stranger to sports, having coached at La Joya HS in various roles for 18 years. He was recently quoted in the Progress Times, saying, “I hate to lose.”
“I feel like Coach has let us play without heavy pressure on our backs. It’s more fun,” said senior Melanie Juarez. “He sees our potential and lets us play.” Any Coyote fan who has attended a game this season would agree, as Coach Zamora is often seen on the sidelines cheering and encouraging his players to “keep it going.” He is grateful that the girls have embraced his coaching philosophy, which emphasizes "playing hard, having fun, and letting the results fall into place."
Senior Melanie Juarez, who initially hadn’t planned on playing this year, decided to join the team after her sophomore teammates reached out to her. “I couldn’t see myself not playing with them on the court.” The team’s lineup includes a majority of sophomore players—seven in total—along with two seniors, one junior, and one freshman. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to play because of the uncertainty with the changes coming into this new season,” said Juarez. With the departure of graduating seniors and key returners, Juarez had mixed feelings about the upcoming season.
Juarez and Lenny Garcia, the team’s two seniors, were recognized before Tuesday’s game against Harvest Christian Academy for Senior Night and were thanked for their leadership this season. “It felt amazing winning on Senior Night. It’s good to see that our hard work is paying off,” said senior libero Lenny Garcia. The Lady Coyotes won the match 3-1 (25-19, 25-15, 21-25, 25-16). Leading the way for the Lady Coyotes was sophomore Brianna Reyna with 13 kills and 4 blocks. Faith Garcia contributed 4 blocks of her own, while Juarez served up 4 aces.
As district play approaches, excitement fills the locker room. Expectations are high for sophomore hitter Brianna Reyna. “I want to help the team make the playoffs,” she said, a feat that La Joya has not achieved in over a decade. “I want to make an All-District team,” Reyna added. With her exceptional play this season, she has already made quite a name for herself.
“It’s been a true blessing working with these young ladies. They are hungry to improve from last season,” said Zamora. Improve they have, as the Lady Coyotes have already secured eight wins this season—more than their total wins from the past three seasons combined. “We just want to pick up some district wins and creep into the playoffs.”
The Lady Coyotes will begin district play on September 28 as they host the Lady Panthers of Weslaco HS.
Catch the Lady Coyotes in their next home game on September 21 at the Abraham Lincoln Building Gymnasium. The first serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.