Team It's been over two decades, but the memory is still fresh for the St. Augustine Lady Knights Volleyball team who accomplished the improbable and cemented their place in Texas vol-leyball history. The road to the Texas Christi. Interscholastic League state volleyball title came via a vic-tory over Class 4A El Paso Loretto back in November 2, 1996.

 

The Lady Knights (3A) had defeated another 4A powerhouse in San Antonio Providence and Beaumont Kelly (3A) a day prior thanks to the All-State performance of sisters Diana Medina (senior), Alysia Medi-na (junior) and Alma Martine. (senior). Shoring up the team was All-District Rebecca Pella (senior), Christina Lopez (junior), Mar-on Netzer (senior). Annie Saida. (senior). Ingeborg Esquivel (junior) and Rhino Pal.ue-los (sophomore).

 

The Lady Knights were guided by head coach Rosalinda Cardenas and assistant coaches Edna Pena and Tlta Vichareli along with team managers Mary Garcia and Celina Gonzales. The Lady Knights overcame a shaky start to the season and came into the tournament as the second-best team in their division. They left that tournament with a State Title in hand and finished with a 19-10 record. Back then head coach Rosalinda Cardenas commented,

 

"It was a wonderful way to end the season after that beginning, I don't think it has dawned on us yet:' Twenty-three years later, the coaches and players know the significance of that victory and will cherish that moment for the rest of their lives. °I couldn't be prouder of the accomplishments of those young ladies and I couldn't be prouder of the way, however small, that the experience has helped shape them into the great `young' women they are today:. Coach Cardenas said.