Dr. Joaquín García Volleyball Ends Inaugural Season with Regional Playoff Loss

A Bittersweet Farewell

LAKE WORTH BEACH – The tears flowed everywhere inside Dr. Joaquin Garcia High’s new gymnasium. From departing girls volleyball head coach Erica Green to seniors Daniela Garrido, Alexis Manger and Sofia Concepcion who were on all three of Garcia’s district championship teams. It seemed anyone wearing the white and powder blue of Garcia was wet-eyed.

It was the end of an era. Maybe the end of the Garcia volleyball dynasty that began when the school opened on Lyons Road in 2023. In the state regional quarterfinals Wednesday, Oct. 22, host Garcia lost a two-hour-plus marathon – an evenly matched, four-set defeat against a dynamic Terra squad from Miami before an ear-splitting crowd.

The final count was 25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 25-18 in what became Green’s final game in a head-coaching career spanning 26 years. Green, who had her rose-filled retirement ceremony on court after the district title last week, spilt even more tears Thursday as she addressed the squad for the final time after its comeback from two sets down fell short.

“We had a great crowd, we wanted to get this win,” Green said, explaining the emotions. “When we didn’t, we knew it was the end of a great season.”

A Special Team

And end of a landmark period for the Bulldogs. “I wanted that game really bad,” said Garrido, the star libero. “It really hurt me because we could’ve won that game. It could’ve gone either way. It does hurt a lot knowing it’s the last game I’m playing here.”

Garrido and Manger both transferred from Palm Beach Central as sophomores to join the new school in Lake Worth. Concepcion transferred from Park Vista. Three years, three titles for all of them. “I didn’t know what to expect so it exceeded my expectations,” Manger said. “I don’t think we could’ve done it without our coaches. They’ve trained us to do everything we do. They made us have a really good bond on the team.”

Garrido was unsurprised by the onslaught of tears and long embraces. “It was a very special team,” Garrido said. “I never met a group of girls like this. The whole season I’ve made more memories with them than I’ve made anywhere else. Humbly, there’s no team that has a connection like ours.”

The Bulldogs just didn’t have enough killers on the front line as did Terra, which was boosted by marvelous and clutch smash shots by junior Madelaine Lopez and sophomore Angelina De La Torre. But Garcia made Terra work and made the Wolves sweat after the visitors took the first two sets by narrow margins – 25-22 in each stanza.

In the final set, Garcia’s vaunted defense became even more rock-solid as rallies were kept alive miraculously. Garcia players saved balls by tracking many of them down well off the court. It was compelling volleyball and the fans had the gym rocking. The Bulldogs squeaked out the third set, 25-23 with Valentina Moran crushing a winner on set point.

Known as a defensive-oriented coach, Green was delighted at the grit. “Our defense was extraordinary all year,” Green said. “They never gave up on a ball tonight. They sacrificed their bones.”

Though the fourth set started out 7-2 in Terra’s favor, Garcia rallied and forged a 12-12 tie. But Terra put on an impressive finishing kick at 20-18 to score five straight points. Green called a timeout during the late deluge but couldn’t stop the Terra tidal wave.

And that’s when it hit Green her coaching clock was down to the final ticks. “It was the last time I was able to call a timeout,” Green said. “I told them: 'I can’t stop the game anymore. If you guys want to go to a fifth set, you got to do your job.' I felt helpless I couldn’t stop the match anymore.”

And soon the emotional hugs were handed out like the free pizza to fans between sets.

The fourth player who had been on all three district title teams – junior Brianna Babinski – may have shed more droplets than anyone. Babinski was part of the first freshmen class in school history. “The seniors were there for me and believed in me when I was a freshman,” Babinski said. “They never not trusted or doubted me. It’s sad. I’m going to be the last one next year.”

Another returning player is sophomore outside Kally Buser, who’s older sister Lyla, a Providence commit, transferred to Cardinal Newman. Buser had a phenomenal game, becoming the only consistent kill threat.

There will be a gaping hole at libero with Garrido gone. She remembered leaving Palm Beach Central after her freshman year, hoping for greener pastures. “I was excited,” Garrido said. “I knew there’d be more opportunities and I’d have a coach who would see my potential. I felt fresh and renewed. It wasn’t for volleyball originally I heard good things about the coach. I knew she’d be really great.”

Manger was more concerned after transferring from Palm Breach Central in 2023. “It was pretty scary at first,” Manger said. “I didn’t know many people. The team helped me make friends.”

Like Green, Concepcion arrived from Park Vista as a sophomore. But Green only coached the boys during Concepcion’s freshman season with the Cobras. “It was really nice and she really deserved it,” Concepcion said of the last week’s Green retirement gala. “She has done a lot with the program. I got a lot of motivation from the coaches and players.”

Assistant Junior Ortega will inherit the reigns, starting with the boys team this spring.

Even in the final defeat, Green was proud of the fight. “I told them a lot of teams would say, 'Two sets down let’s get it over,’ Green said. “Our team was resilient, fought back and really wanted it. And we had a great crowd on our home court. But they got us.”