Blocks ignite Logan over Santa Rosa

LOGAN - The Logan volleyball team looked out of sorts, trailed 17-10 in the first set and seem destined to lose to Santa Rosa for a third time this season.

Then the Lady Longhorns began making blocks.

Logan blocked three shots in a row at one point, ultimately rallying the team to win the set and setting the tone in a 25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-15 non-district victory Thursday.

The Lady Longhorns dominated the net, making 11 blocks to the Lady Lions' two. Logan also made 41 kills to Santa Rosa's 28 to improve to improve to 5-4 overall. Santa Rosa fell to 8-2, with their only previous loss to perennial power Melrose.

Kaylee Williams led Logan with 10 kills, six blocks and four service aces. Natalie Bongers made nine kills, and Desta Rose added eight kills and three aces.

Danae Esquibel and Daelyn Pacheco each made nine kills for Santa Rosa.

Taking advantage of a slew of Logan errors, Santa Rosa seized an early lead in the opening set and appeared ready to cruise to victory.

But Williams made two consecutive blocks for points, and Rose added another. That fueled a 10-1 scoring run for the Lady Longhorns to give them the lead in the first set they wouldn't relinquish.

Logan coach Glynna Strand credited her team's improved passing, which set up spike attempts by her hitters.

But she acknowledged the sudden success with their blocks fueled the turnaround.

"Volleyball's a game of momentum," she said. "When you get it on your side, it's a good thing, and those blocks did that."

Santa Rosa coach Kevin Ortiz echoed Strand's comments about Logan's blocks and the effect on the match.

"Volleyball's a game of momentum, and that completely shifted it right there," he said. "Our hitters got discouraged. Instead of swinging a little bit harder, they pulled back and didn't hit as well as we normally do."

Logan broke open a close second set with an 8-3 run to win that one, too.

The Lady Longhorns led the third set 22-20, but the Lady Lions scored five of the next six points to eke out a win.

Though happy his team staved off a three-set loss, Ortiz said he knew it still faced long odds.

"We were lucky to get that third-set win, but it's difficult when you're two sets down," he said.

Logan obliterated any of Santa Rosa's remaining hopes with a 15-4 run in the final set. Williams and Bongers combined for six kills and one block during that time.

Logan has a much-anticipated home game Saturday afternoon against county rival Tucumcari.

Roy-Mosquero 3, San Jon 1

Vega 3, San Jon 0

San Jon suffered non-district losses last week against Vega (Texas) and Roy-Mosquero.

On Sept. 13, the Lady Coyotes fell 7-25, 16-25, 20-25 against the host Longhorns. Vega ended the week with a 6-14 mark.

On Thursday, host San Jon won the opening set 25-21, but dropped the next three 10-25, 7-25, 11-25 to the Lady Pirates. Roy-Mosquero improved to 8-2.

San Jon finished the week with a 2-8 record.