Betancourt finds groove in win over Del Rio

Lady Bulldogs hope the sophomore right side hitter builds off her latest performance and continues to play at a high level for the remainder of the season

By Garrett Kroeger

It’s no secret that Alexander volleyball has a multitude of weapons at the net. The Lady Bulldogs have six players who could easily lead the team in kills during any given match. And this past Tuesday in a sweep over Del Rio, it was right side hitter Abriella Betancourt who dominated for the Navy & Gold.

Betancourt, a sophomore in her second year on varsity, found holes in Del Rio’s defense with ease as she led Alexander with 11 kills. Nearly every time she’d attack, it was an instant kill and point for the Lady Bulldogs. The Queens had no answer for her.

“It was amazing – like always,” Betancourt said of the win. “It was a team effort. So, it’s always good.

“I was just ready, especially for district (play). So, I came out excited and ready to win.”

Betancourt entered this season with high expectations placed on her. She was solid as a freshman, emerging as a viable threat at the net last year as she finished with 122 kills – fifth on the team in 2023. However, this season has been a mixed bag of sorts.

There’s always highs and lows to an athlete’s season. There will be times in which an athlete will truly dominate and there will be other times in which they absolutely struggle. And Betancourt has experienced that first hand.

There were times during non-district play in which Betancourt looked like her dominant self – a player who could easily get double-digit kills with ease. But there were other times in which she was non-existent. Entering Friday’s road matchup against Medina Valley, Betancourt ranks fourth on the team with 99 kills.

“She brings a lot to the team,” Alexander head coach Ari Bermea-Mendoza said. “She plays a pivotal role for us on the right side. We knew she had that capacity as a player.”

The Lady Bulldogs are one of the favorites to win District 30-6A this season. They are trying to repeat as league champions, too. They also have a good chance to go deep into the playoffs, especially if they are clicking at the right time. And for them to accomplish what they want to achieve, they need Betancourt to be at her best match in and match out.

According to Bermea-Mendoza, Tuesday’s performance was much needed for Betancourt. With Alexander now in district play – it's 2-0 in league competition as of Friday – it needs the sophomore to be at her best on a consistent basis. So, the Lady Bulldogs hope she can build off her latest performance and continue to play like she did for the remainder of the season

“We’ve been trying to get her in sync,” Bermea-Mendoza said. “It was fun to be back in her element on the right side.

“It’s very important for her to be in her element on the right side.”

While Alexander has a handful of players at the net who can lead its offense, Bermea-Mendoza is the first one to admit that the team has struggled to get production from its right side on a consistent basis this season. When the Lady Bulldogs are clicking on all cylinders — getting production at both ends of the net – they are a hard team to beat, as they showed on Tuesday. So, it’s important for Alexander that Betancourt builds off her latest performance. 

Alexander is arguably the deepest, most talented team in DIstrict 30-6A, especially when all its athletes are playing to the best of their abilities. And for the Lady Bulldogs to accomplish what they want to achieve, they will need everyone to step up at certain times this season.

On Tuesday, Betancourt stepped up for Alexander. She showed why she entered this year with high expectations placed on herself. She dominated from the start and the Lady Bulldogs defeated Del Rio with ease because of it.

Betancourt knows there’s been times this season in which she wasn’t her dominant self. She knows that she can be a more consistent force for Alexander, and she aims to be that for the remainder of the year. And if she does become more consistent, she knows the Lady Bulldogs will be hard to beat.

“It’s awesome because if someone is off, someone can easily step up and play well,” Betancourt said. “It’s great.”

On Tuesday, she was the player to step up for Alexander. And the Lady Bulldogs hope Betancourt continues to step up for the remainder of the season.