By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
On Thursday, August 28, the Port Isabel ECHS hosted the 16th Annual “Volley by the Beach” 2025 volleyball tournament. The tourney brought in 30 teams from the 1A ranks to the 5A ranks. Teams in attendance were from as far north as Cuero to Corpus area teams and out westward to the upper valley in Pharr Valley View. The teams played over 160 matches in five courts during the duration of the tournament.
Port Isabel started off the day in Pool 1 along with Brownsville Frontier, IDEA Donna and Santa Maria. After the pool play had concluded, the Lady Tarpons found themselves firmly planted in the Gold Bracket along with Valley View, Falfurrias, San Perlita, Raymondville, Bro. Hanna, Lyford and Bro. Jubilee. As the losing teams packed up and left for the day, the last two teams standing in the bracket were Port Isabel and San Perlita, two teams that were evenly matched.
In the first set, San Perlita got off to an early 0-2 lead, but the Lady Tarpons quickly tied the set up at 2-2. The teams went back and forth, until a served ball by Rachel Martinez was unreturnable, giving the Lady Tarpons their first lead, 5-4.
The Lady Trojans got the hot hand and started to pull away as they built a 19-10 lead. The Lady Tarpons continued to fight back, but ultimately lost the first set, 25-19. The Lady Tarpons regrouped and went on to win the next two sets, 25-18 and 15-13 to clinch the Gold Bracket Championship.
Volleyball head coach Johvonne Howard believes playing the various teams of different competition levels prior to district will only help the team down the line. “Kids competed and showed effort and a championship attitude. We have a tough pre district schedule and it’s all to prepare us for post district. This team is ready!” Stated coach Howard.
The bracket champions (with runner-up) are as follows, Elite: Beeville (Bro. Pace), Gold: Port Isabel (San Perlita), Silver: West Oso (IDEA Edinburg), Bronze: La Feria (IDEA Frontier).
The All-Tournament players were, Port Isabel: Kymberlie Estrada, Emma Shukitt, Beeville: Harper Green (MVP), Abigail Delbouque, Gabby Pesina, La Feria: Maxine Rivera, Bro. Pace: Andrea Salgado, Risa Trevino, Maddie Beard, West Oso: Alivia Shaw, Regina Lopez, Lopez ECHS: Jasmine Cortinas, IDEA Edinburg: Alexa Gonzalez, Tamara Anaya, and San Perlita: #10, #12.
If any businesses or chambers want to be part ot the 2026 Volley by the Beach tournament, please reach out to Coach Johvonne Howard at (956)943-0110 or email: johvonne.howard@pi-isd.net.
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