Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
In a battle between Class 1A’s top-ranked teams, Melrose prevailed in a five-set epic against Logan in the championship match Saturday of the Vixen Volleyball Classic at Fort Sumner.
Melrose won 25-17, 13-25, 25-12, 22-25, 15-7 in a match against Logan that took nearly two hours.
In the fifth and deciding set, the Lady Buffaloes surged to a 10-1 lead the Lady Longhorns didn’t overcome.
Logan, ranked No. 1 in 1A in the most recent coaches poll, suffered its first loss and fell to 7-1 overall.
Melrose, a perennial contender for the 1A title, was ranked second in the coaches poll and improved to 4-0.
Kaylee Williams led Logan with seven kills and four aces. Desta Rose and Camryn Cantrell each notched five kills.
“Melrose is a good team,” Logan coach Glynna Strand said. “Volleyball is a game of momentum. We were trading out matches; they had the momentum in the last match.
“We looked great at times. The girls are working hard. Still a lot to work on to be were we wanna be by November.”
In the semifinal earlier Saturday, Logan survived a stiff challenge from the host team during a 15-25, 25-14, 15-25, 25-13, 18-16 victory.
In the fifth and deciding set, the Lady Longhorns trailed 14-10 but rallied to tie it. They also trailed 16-15 but answered with three straight points to pull out the victory.
Fort Sumner fell to 0-5.
West Las Vegas 3, Tucumcari 0
West Las Vegas prevailed 25-21, 31-29, 25-20 over visiting Tucumcari in a non-district battle of Class 3A-ranked teams on Wednesday.
West Las Vegas (3-2) is ranked seventh in the division by MaxPreps.com and second by the latest state coaches poll.
Tucumcari (5-3) is ranked fifth by MaxPreps and fifth in the coaches poll.
Tucumcari coach Dana Benavidez said her team wasn’t at its best.
“We played out of sync most of the game, couldn’t get a rhythm,” she said. “The girls tried hard but just fell short. We will regroup and be ready for Raton next week.”
Caylee Benavidez led the Lady Rattlers with eight kills, and Cambree Benavidez added seven kills.
Before the match, the Lady Dons presented the Lady Rattlers with flowers and a sympathy card and held a moment of silence for Tucumcari freshman football player Javion Martinez, who died Aug. 26.
San Jon 3, Floyd 0
The visiting Lady Coyotes won their third match in a row with a three-set victory over Floyd on Thursday.
San Jon took the match by scores of 25-22, 25-11, 25-19.
Lady Coyotes coach Bobby Kandel said his team overcame some shaky moments.
“But they are coming together and treating each other the way you want teammates to,” he said. “They have really bought the team becoming family and understanding how each individual ticks. It’s inspiring to see as coach because this is what you want them to act like at the end of the season, and we are already there on the emotional side of the game.
“I’m challenging them to play up-tempo, and we changed our blocking scheme during the Tucumcari tournament, so we are having to grow.”
San Jon improved to 6-2 overall.
Floyd fell to 0-6.