<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2sJmhi_0vcDK4iK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2sJmhi_0vcDK4iK00" width="650" height="551" ><figcaption>Camila Ontiveros and the Lady Tigers beat the Lady Mustangs in five.&nbsp; (Ellie Bednarz/Laredo Morning Times) </figcaption></figure> It feels like every time the Lady Tigers and the Lady Mustangs meet, the match goes to five sets. Maybe that’s because it is a rivalry game requiring a lot more from athletes on both sides, or it’s just the nature of the beast. Last week, it was all about the Cigarroa Toros walking into Tigerland and stealing the win. This week, it was the Lady Tigers' turn to do the same and play road warrior. Nixon took the first set, but Martin responded by securing sets two and three. They could have taken set four, but the Green &amp; Gold did not allow that to happen, forcing a set five. From that point on, the Lady Tigers played with vengeance in their eyes and did not let victory slip from their hands. The Lady Tigers left the Nixon gym with the win and a little bit of rivalry bragging rights for the night. By now, many people know Martin's No. 11, Camila Ontiveros. She has been a solid contributor for the last three-plus years, but this game felt different. All day long, as she walked the halls of Martin High School, she knew she had a job to do. It would be the last time she would walk into her rival's gym to try and pull the upset. Throughout the long hours of the day, she continued to remind herself of her capabilities. "I know what I can do for my team, and I felt that in this game I could be the difference for my team," Ontiveros said. "For the last two or three games, I felt I was not at my best. Way too quiet, and I started to question what I was doing wrong mentally. Is it worth it to step up and be loud?” Against Cigarroa, she was assessed a yellow card, which in volleyball is given after a second minor offense for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ontiveros has always been the one to go to the head referee to ask for explanations when it comes to the calls, and she has no problem with that. In fact, she said she is willing to take a card for her team. Ontiveros, a captain, is hoping to let her personality show more. This process has never been easy for the senior. For the most part, she has tried to separate emotion and personality from the way she plays the game. The emotions showed against Nixon, though, and Ontiveros actually enjoyed the process of allowing herself to play freely, and things started to fall into place. "When I started to make points, it showed on my face the most. I needed to have calmness when I made mistakes. I have a serious face but not angry; only internally I am talking to myself and correcting myself," Ontiveros said. "Anxiety, I felt it all day, not knowing if we were going to win, not knowing if I was going to be able to perform in a moment of pressure." Head coach Aide Rodriguez is in the process of trying to rein Ontiveros back in. She feels as if the senior is overworking and doing way too much, more than what is necessary. Doing more has always been in Ontiveros' nature since she started playing the sport, and she links it back to her middle school days when her coach taught her to do as much as possible. It has been a really hard process to draw back and focus on one thing at a time because it's imprinted in Ontiveros' nature to want to do it all. At this point, Ontiveros knows that people recognize her last name and the number on her back, but now she wants to be seen a little bit differently. "Before, I wanted all the points on the stat sheet for myself; definitely selfish of me. Now, I want to look at my stat sheet and see points from everyone: assist from Maria, set from Cris, and kill from Camila. Every single set, every single point, someone has a part in it," Ontiveros said. "And this was a big return night for Hailey as well. As her teammate and her friend, it was good to see her back and contributing, but I got really nervous. I did not want her pushing herself and possibly getting hurt again." As Ontiveros is trying to figure out her role, doing less, and allowing emotions to show but not control her, she also pointed out how she feels respected. For years, she has received compliments on how effective she is on the court. Whether it is from her teammates, her coaches, or her fellow classmates, she mentioned that opposing coaches or those from different programs complimenting her is a sign of respect. "I remember that coaches from other schools always talk about me. Coaches that I don't personally know would shake my hand," Ontiveros said. "Even after the game, the coach, I think, from Nixon basketball, shook my hand. These are things that maybe people see only as an expression, but for an athlete, it means respect." </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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Martin's Ontiveros felt more comfortable with her emotions against Nixon

Martin's Camila Ontiveros left her insecurities behind against Nixon and allowed her emotions to show in triumph.