Logan volleyball team defeats rival Grady/San Jon

GRADY - Logan dealt with serving errors, playing on the road and a flat performance but still defeated area rival Grady/San Jon 26-24, 25-20, 25-11 during a district volleyball game Thursday.

The Lady Longhorns, ranked third in Class A, improved to 13-3 overall and 4-0 in district play. The Lady Bronchos, ranked eighth, fell to 9-7, 1-3.

Logan committed 10 serving errors during the first two games and coped with a lack of consistency in its attack game.

"We were really fortunate," Logan coach Robert Young said. "We had a lot of service errors and had to make up for that in a lot of ways. We just had to battle. I don't think we took them lightly; we were just flat."

He said senior Harlie Roach provided leadership when her teammates struggled.

"She was really steady and helped us," Young said.

Young acknowledged he was a bit apprehensive before the match about playing Grady/San Jon for a third time this year.

"I got after my players during practice," he said. "I told them, 'You'd better be ready, guys, because they're coming after you.'"

The Lady Bronchos took leads of 13-9 in the first game and 4-0 in the second.

"The first two sets were some of the best play we've had all year," Grady/San Jon coach Rebecca Burns said. "We battled pretty well - the best we have against them."

In the third game, Logan jumped to a 6-0 lead and reeled off 11 unanswered points.

"Towards the end of that third game, we showed how we could play," Young said.

"In the third set, we got a little tired, and we stopped making good decisions because of it," Burns said.

Desert Academy 3, Tucumcari 1

Tucumcari started fast but faded during a 25-9, 18-25, 16-25, 15-25 road loss Saturday to Desert Academy at Santa Fe.

The Lady Rattlers fell to 3-13 overall.

The Wildcats improved to 7-8.

Tucumcari hosts Dexter in its first district game about 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Melrose 3, Grady 0

Grady 3, Fort Sumner 1

Melrose, ranked No. 1 in Class A, defeated Grady/San Jon 25-6, 25-19, 25-13 during a district match Oct. 9 at Melrose.

"That first set, our serve receive was awful," Burns said. "I think it was nerves, a little bit. Once they calmed down, we were able to compete more at our usual level. I hope next time we start a little sooner than that."

Melrose improved to 13-1 overall, with its only loss to area rival Logan.

On Saturday, the Lady Bronchos overcame a slow start to defeat Fort Sumner 17-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-9.

Yara Sotelo made 13 kills and 29 digs during the match.

"We came out in the second set and really started pounding it," Burns said. "It was one of the best games we've had all year."

Grady/San Jon ended the week 10-7 overall, 2-3 in district. The Vixens fell to 6-10, 1-3.

Logan 3, Clovis Christian 0

Logan crushed visiting Clovis Christian 25-5, 25-10, 25-5 during a district match Saturday.

The Lady Longhorns ended the week 14-3 overall and 5-0 in district play.

The Eagles fell to 2-9 overall, 0-4 in district.