Sharyland & Pioneer volleyball teams prepare for regional final matchups
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For the first time in over a decade, the RGV will be represented in the Texas high school volleyball Elite Eight.
The Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks and Sharyland Lady Rattlers are both set to compete in the regional final on Tuesday evening.
"It's a really good feeling because being in the Elite Eight, we made history," Pioneer senior setter Natalia Gonzalez said. "We worked really hard to get here and I'm really excited for our next game."
"In the past years, Sharyland has never made it this far," Sharyland senior outside hitter Pam Pena said. "Coming into this we've obviously been seen as they underdogs because we supposedly didn't have as strong of players as the other teams did. We weren't ranked as high as they were... Getting to the Elite Eight is something that nobody expected from us, but we always knew that we had it within us."
The Lady Rattlers come into Tuesday's matchup after some intense playoff battles, winning in five sets in the bi-district round against Corpus Christi Veterans and then winning another five-set battle against Boerne Champion in the regional semifinal.
"It really comes down to being disciplined and being in the right mindset," Sharyland senior libero Danika Martinez said. "We've been able to stay composed along our journey and being able to work with the pressure and do what needs to be done."
"The games were so intense, they definitely weren't easy," Pena said. "We had to play together at the end of the day. We had to leave it all on the court and I feel like we did... We truly gave it our all, not just me but every single player on the court."
Now, the Lady Rattlers are taking on Flour Bluff. The Lady Hornets are not only undefeated since the start of September, they haven't dropped a single set during that entire winning streak.
"We are going in with a lot of confidence, and I have faith in my team," Martinez said of the matchup.
"I tell my team, don't focus on what they've done. Focus on what we've done and what we've accomplished," Pena added. "Just because there's a school that has a perfect record, it doesn't mean they're unbeatable."
Pioneer's playoff run has been just as dominant as their regular season. The team has dropped only one set on their entire playoff run, with the Lady Diamondbacks sweeping their last two opponents.
"We're just so blessed," Pioneer senior outside hitter Elle Hill said. "But also knowing that, we didn't come this far just to come this far. We want more than just Elite Eight. We want more than just Final Four. Our end goal is to win a state title."
The team now has a record of 41-2 overall this season as they reach the Elite Eight. Their matchup this round comes against New Braunfels, the same team that knocked the reigning state champion Flour Bluff Lady Hornets out of the playoffs back in 2025.
"We're expecting big hitters, big blockers, but nothing we can't handle," Gonzalez said. "Our block has gotten a lot better since our district season ended, so I think we're prepared."
"I think we just expect them just like any other team to play with everything they have," Hill added. "Once you get into playoffs, it's not all about who has the better hitters, the better setters, the better liberos, it's about who wants it more and who has the most heart."
The Pioneer matchup will be at 6:00 p.m. at Corpus Christi Carroll High School on Tuesday, while Sharyland will play at 6:30 p.m. at Alice High School.
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