Sophomore Abriella Betancourt knew Alexander didn't play its best game when they met United at the Lady Longhorns Tournament. The team was out of sync, and United capitalized to beat Alexander in the championship game.
That loss didn't sit well with Alexander, which has been on a mission ever since Aug. 31. Heading into Saturday’s matchup, Alexander had a perfect 5-0 record, while United came in at 4-1 as the Lady Bulldogs were ready to avenge their August loss.
Betancourt helped Alexander sweep United 3-0, concluding the first round with a 6-0 record and maintaining the top spot in the District 30-6A standings.
“We have come a long way from that tournament,” Betancourt said. “We evolved a lot as a team and just came out here to play.”
The Lady Bulldogs overpowered United at the net with an array of offensive weapons that include Betancourt. She earned a spot on the varsity team as a freshman and has continued to take her game to the next level, becoming a key component for an offense that boasts six hitters.
“We have a lot of offensive weapons from Andrea (Nunez), Stella (Evans), Sophia (Gonzalez), Bella (Ramirez), Caro (Sanchez), and I think we all produce and do what we need to do at the net,” Betancourt said.
Alexander is on a quest to sweep every team and has accomplished that this season. Spanning since last season, Alexander is 16-0 in district play and has swept every single district opponent, including United.
“It is amazing to finish the first round undefeated,” Betancourt said. “We haven't dropped a single set, and that's been our main motivation this year.”
Betancourt and the Lady Bulldogs came out pounding the ball from the inception and never looked back as they dominated United.
“We had a plan, and they stuck to it,” Alexander head coach Ariana Bermea-Mendoza said. “One thing that I was very proud of them overall, mostly that they were so disciplined with the little things, and we always talk about things will roll your way as long as we stay very disciplined.”
When Alexander needed a huge hit, Betancourt was ready to pound the ball for the Lady Bulldogs and finished with seven in the three sets.
“She is up and coming,” Bermea-Mendoza said. “We are proud of her and her progress so far. She is a gamer. She is going to find a way to do what she needs to do. She has a bright future, and for now we are enjoying her presence on the right side for us offensively, and defensively she has gotten better.”
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
