Lady Horns serve up a sweep against Presidio
The Marfa Lady Horns delivered a strong performance Friday night, defeating the JV Presidio Blue Devils in three straight sets.
Marfa opened the match with intensity, dominating the first set 25–15. Presidio pushed back in the second set, but the Lady Horns held their ground to edge out a 25–22 win, even though they initially fell behind by 6 points. With momentum firmly on their side after their second set comeback, Marfa closed out the third set with confidence to secure the sweep.
Senior leaders Ava Flores and Raven Martinez set the tone at the net, using their athleticism to hammer down kills and keep Presidio on the defensive. Giselle Torres and Zoey Salgado anchored the back row with timely digs, while Dariela Muñoz tallied 4 assists and Madison Cash added 2 service aces to round out the effort.
On the JV side, Presidio earned the win, but the young Lady Horns showed a lot of fight and determination throughout their match. The young squad — mainly freshmen and sophomores — used Adonise Lujan’s efforts as she contributed several digs and aces, while Daniela Fernandez and Ora Webb hustled defensively and combined for 4 assists to keep Marfa competitive.
Shorthorns fall to Da Vinci Dragons in home opener
The Shorthorns opened their 2025 football season under the Friday night lights at Martin Field, surrounded by the energy of the hometown crowd, the community festivities and the start of the UIL football season in Texas.
The game began with the Horns receiving the opening kickoff with senior return man Alejandro Rodriguez giving the Horns early momentum with a 28-yard kick return to midfield. However, the offense struggled to maintain possession, with multiple fumbles, penalties and dropped passes stalling drives throughout the game. Da Vinci capitalized on Marfa’s miscues, breaking loose for long scoring plays of 60 and 50 yards that proved costly. Defensive breakdowns allowed the Dragons to seize momentum and hand Marfa its first loss of the season.
Despite the loss, several Horns turned in strong performances. JoSaul Baeza recorded key stops against the Dragons’ backs and receivers, while Ayden Alvarez and Asael Zubia made numerous solo tackles before exiting with injuries. Offensively, sophomore quarterback Austin McGary led the offense by spreading carries between Darren Campos, Alvarez, Abelardo Marquez and Rodriguez.
Marfa’s scoring highlights included a 40-yard touchdown reception by Abelardo Marquez, a 3-yard touchdown run by Rodriguez, McGary’s 30-yard TD run, and Ayven Pippen and Ayden Alvarez with a 2-point conversion each.
The Horns also had bright moments defensively, with Rodriguez recovering a fumble and contributing multiple solo tackles. Marfa’s defense even pinned Da Vinci deep on a 4th-and-30, but a dropped ball by a Da Vinci back turned into a broken play that resulted in a long touchdown run for the Dragons. Da Vinci later added a pick-six with just 50 seconds left in the first half to widen the gap. At halftime, the Shorthorns trailed 16–30, but the deficit grew as Da Vinci continued to capitalize on turnovers in the second half which led to the final score of 48-22 and a loss for the Horns.
After the game, Head Coach Kevin Pippen acknowledged the disappointing result but remained optimistic: “This wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but I’m proud of our younger players who stepped up when called upon. We didn’t have our best team performance, but there were positive takeaways that we can build on moving forward.”
The Horns host Fort Hancock on Friday at Martin Field, JH 5 p.m. and Varsity 7:30 p.m.
Lady Horns battle hard despite dual match defeats
The Marfa Lady Horns traveled to Van Horn Tuesday night for a dual match against McCamey and Van Horn. Despite a strong effort, they fell to McCamey in a close five-set battle.
Against Van Horn, the Lady Horns came out strong with a 25–20 win in the first set. Senior Ava Flores led with an ace and three kills, senior Raven Martinez added two kills and an assist, and junior Giselle Torres stepped up as libero, recording three solid digs.
Though Marfa dropped the next three sets (10–25, 10–25, 18–25), there were plenty of positives. In the second set, juniors Dariela Muñoz delivered a solid block, and Zoey Salgado came in clutch with a dig off the net. The third set saw some miscommunication, but freshman Adeline Marquez made her presence known with a dig and two big blocks. In the final set, the Lady Horns found their rhythm again, with Martinez adding two kills and Muñoz one more, fighting hard before falling 18–25.
Head Coach Osiris Alferez had a lot to say about her team: “I’ve been really proud of how this group is evolving as a team. What stands out to me is the confidence they’re showing on the court. There’s no hesitation anymore, and every player is stepping up with trust in each other. From a coaching perspective, that trust has changed our game. We’re no longer relying on just one or two players to score; instead, the offense is being spread out across the team. That balance not only makes us harder to defend, but it also shows how much the girls are buying into the idea of playing for each other. It’s been exciting to see their growth, and I think it’s only the beginning of what they’re capable of this season. Honestly, I’d say every single player has exceeded my expectations this year. When I came in, I completely switched up their positions, and instead of resisting, they’ve all been incredibly coachable. That’s made the transition smooth and really rewarding to watch. I have a new setter this year so we could run a 6–2, and Dariela has been amazing in embracing that role. Ava, Zoey, and Amaya have stepped into hitting and you can tell they’re enjoying it. Raven and Itzel have adjusted really well on the outside, handling different sets and tempos. Our littles, Madison and Giselle, have been huge in making plays and contributing steady defense in the back row. And then there’s our freshman middle, Adeline, who has shown so much growth game by game. I’m really excited to see how she continues to mature in the game and what the future holds for her. Truly, it’s been a full team effort, and that’s what makes this group so fun to coach.”
This Saturday, the Lady Horns will hit the road to Crane for a much-anticipated matchup against former Marfa coach Priscila Serrano and the Lady Golden Cranes. JV is set to begin at 11 a.m., with varsity to follow at 12 p.m.