Logan defeats No. 1-ranked Melrose

LOGAN - The No. 1-ranked Melrose volleyball team won't have an undefeated season. Logan made sure of that Saturday with a 25-23, 25-20, 12-25, 25-23 district victory in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Reece Goldston pounded home a match-high 17 kills, including the last three to secure the win for the Lady Longhorns (16-6 overall, 7-3 in district). Rilee Nials, rounding back in shape after a groin injury sidelined her for weeks, added 13 kills for Logan and helped set up more as a setter for a good portion of the match.

Melrose, which already captured the District 6 title with wins over Fort Sumner, fell to 21-1, 9-1. Graci Odom led the Lady Buffs with 16 kills, and Jayda Brittenum added 15 kills.

As in the past, Logan may face Melrose again in this week's Class 1A state tournament, in which the Lady Buffs were seeded No. 1. Logan earned the fifth seed in the tourney and will host 12th-seeded Quemado on Tuesday. (See other story in this edition.)

Logan coach Robert Young said after the match his team's overall floor defense has improved in recent weeks, which boosted the entire offense.

He also said the Lady Longhorns' blocking was exemplary, as evidenced by his team's eight blocks for points, compared to Melrose's three.

"I don't think we've blocked like that in years," he said. "I've had some other teams that block well, but not the whole match ... not like that.

"Against a great-hitting team like that, that was good to see. We frustrated them a little bit, and that really helped us out."

Nials played during Logan's previous match against Melrose on Oct. 15, but Young said she wasn't in game shape after recovering from her injury, and he kept her from setting as a precautionary move. On Saturday, she had a bigger role in the offense, and it showed.

Melrose coach Casey Jackson had a different take on his team's loss

"We weren't mentally engaged in the game from the start. We were sluggish in the first set, and it carried over to the second," he said. "We woke up a little and finally played a little in the third. But Logan's good, and looks healthy."

He added: "It's always hard to win here."

Jackson said his team also was hobbled by a recent outbreak of a stomach virus and several nagging injuries, including a sore shoulder by outside hitter Isabelle Sena.

"We're a little beat up," he said. "We're trying to heal up. Hopefully, we get that all squared away by next week."

Logan took a small early lead in the first set and kept it almost most of the way. Trailing 23-22, the Lady Longhorns scored three unanswered points on a block and a kill by Natalie Bongers and a kill by Nials.

In the second set, Logan trailed 18-14 but went on an 8-1 run to flip momentum. Goldston ended that set with a kill.

A flurry of Lady Longhorn errors in the third set enabled Melrose to take a double-digit lead it wouldn't relinquish.

After that loss, Young told his players they needed to hit the reset button.

"I told them they need to have a short-term memory," he said. "They need to forget about it and start over like it was a new match. I told them they were overthinking and they need to relax and do the things we taught them in practice."

The Lady Longhorns apparently did relax. In the fourth set, Logan trailed 22-21 but scored four of the next five points to capture the match. Goldston totaled seven kills during the set.

Jackson acknowledged Saturday's match in the raucous Logan gymnasium had a state tournament atmosphere.

"There's five or six teams that could potentially go win it, and Logan is in that mix, for sure," he said.

Logan 3, San Jon 0

San Jon led in two of three sets Thursday against district rival Logan but fell 13-25, 20-25, 19-25 to the Lady Longhorns.

San Jon coach Jaree Elliott said her team took to significant leads in the second and third sets but couldn't hold those.

"Our youth and self-doubt got us best of us, and they pecked away at it and came back for the win," she said of the second set. "The third set, we got another lead ... and again Logan grabbed a gear and came back for the victory."

Elliott praised Sarah Archuleta for several left-handed kills, Chantzee Elliott's digs on hard hits and Karlee Elliott's blocks and attacks at the net.

"Logan played well, and Rilee Nials is an impressive setter and Kyra Conway did an amazing job handling the ball and allowing Logan's offense to get some big kills," the coach said. "Reece (Goldston) had a good serving streak against us in the first set with her good jump serve. They are a worthy opponent for sure and one that no team should overlook."

Young said he told Elliot after the match he didn't want his team the play the Coyotes again this season.

"They're the most improved team I've seen in a long time," he said. "They pushed us in every set. They played really good defense; they served hard. They were blocking us, and their middle hitter was hurting us."

San Jon 3, Clovis Christian 0

San Jon finished its regular season Friday with a solid 25-7, 25-18, 25-16 victory over visiting Clovis Christian.

"Each of my 12 players got to play a lot, and each of them had big plays," Elliott said. "The six that started played solid and strong and led well on the court and encouraged when they were off."

She cited freshman Perlita Ramirez's two aces, eighth-grader Summer Jennings' ace and Dakota Fisher's assists to help close the third set.

San Jon finished the regular season with an 11-10 overall record and 4-6 in District 6, good for fourth place.

The Lady Coyotes didn't qualify for the Class 1A tournament, but the fact they were in the running for a berth shows how much they improved from last season's winless team.

"I know this: The work ethic these girls showed all season, as well as the growth and experience, are an excellent foundation to build on for next year," Elliott said.

Clovis Christian, losers of eight in a row, finished 3-19, 0-8.