Lady Rattlers move into first place in district

Tucumcari's volleyball team took sole possession of first place in the district standings with a 25-22, 26-24, 25-17 victory Thursday over New Mexico Military Institute during the Lady Rattlers' annual Think Pink event for breast-cancer awareness.

The Lady Rattlers, ranked fourth in Class 3A by MaxPreps.com, won their 10th straight. They improved to 16-4 overall and 3-0 in District 4.

Cambree Benavidez led Tucumcari with 12 kills, and Haisley Huffman added nine kills. Tucumcari held a 30-20 advantage in kills during the match.

The Lady Colts fell to 8-10, 0-2.

Tucumcari rallied to win the first set despite spotting NMMI a 10-0 lead. THS coach Dana Benavidez said her team initially was "overstimulated" by all the activities associated with the Think Pink event, including a salute to breast-cancer survivors and manning bake-sale tables.

"I had to reel them back in and make them remember there was a volleyball game," she said.

Coach Benavidez, noting her team overcame another double-digit deficit against Dexter two days before, said her experienced squad has shown it can respond to a challenge.

"It's a mentality for them, and they believe they have the opportunity to win, and they never give up," she said. "I'm super proud of that mentality; you can't teach that."

The Lady Rattlers responded to the deficit with a 9-0 run and eventually tied it 12-12, with Kylie'Ann Rincones playing a sizable role in the rally with three kills.

NMMI coach Chantale Riddle said her team has struggled with its confidence.

"We fold under pressure right now," he said. "We have really athletic girls. But helping them get confidence, I've been trying to do that all year. We have it; it's just making them believe they have it."

July Lafferty delivered a kill to give Tucumcari a first-set victory.

In the second set, Lafferty served an ace and made another kill to win that one, as well.

Alexis Ramirez broke open the third set with four straight aces to give the Lady Rattlers a double-digit lead. The Lady Colts never drew closer than six points after that.

Tucumcari hosts Dexter on Thursday, then goes to NMMI on Nov. 7 before playing its district finale at home on Nov. 9.

Benavidez said she would give her team a couple of days off after three district matches in six days, with two on the road.

"We've had to battle," she said. "We're going to work on coverage to make sure we're shifting right on defense."

Before the match, Lady Rattlers players recognized 15 local cancer survivors and presented them gift bags. They ranged from women who'd recovered from cancer 15 years ago to those who are battling the disease now.

The bake sale and other events netted a little more than $1,000. The money was given to cancer patients Kelly Jean Biggers, Cathy Garcia and John Span, who is THS boys basketball coach.

Tucumcari 3, Dexter 1

The Lady Rattlers notched an important 25-14, 17-25, 25-16, 26-24 district win last Tuesday at Dexter, including rallying from a double-digit deficit in the match-clinching set.

Dexter led 19-8 in the fourth set and seemed destined to force a fifth and deciding set in the match.

Instead, Tucumcari went on a 10-1 run to whittle the gap to 20-18.

The Lady Demons then led 24-21 and had the ball. But after a Dexter service error, Huffman made four kills to rally Tucumcari to a 26-24 victory and capture the match.

"My team played hard and always thinks they have the ability to win," coach Benavidez said. "They are mentally strong and give all they have 100% of the time."

The coach said a perfect serving day by Kirksey Smith and Harley McKinney helped with the victory.

Cambree Benevidez led the Lady Rattlers with 13 kills, and older sister Caylee Benavidez added 12 kills. Huffman totaled nine kills.

Logan 3, San Jon 0

The Lady Longhorns blasted host San Jon 25-6, 25-5, 25-9 during a district matchup on Saturday.

Kaylee Williams led Logan with six kills, while Camryn Cantrell and Haylie Bidegain each had five kills. Hailee Robertson totaled 17 digs.

Logan improved to 14-5 overall and 4-1 in its district, behind only Melrose in the district standings. The Lady Longhorns are ranked third in Class 1A by MaxPreps.com.

San Jon, mired in a seven-match losing streak, fell to 9-12 and 0-6 in district play.

"Not much to say," Lady Coyotes coach Bobby Kandel said. "Logan plays a fast game, and (we) struggled to match that."

Fort Sumner 3, San Jon 0

Host Fort Sumner cruised to a 25-16, 25-23, 25-18 district victory last Tuesday over San Jon.

The Vixens improved to 9-8 overall and 3-2 in district play.