Lady Rattlers rally to win opener

After looking out of sorts during losses in the first two sets, Tucumcari's volleyball team rallied to win three straight during a 15-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-12 season-opening home victory Saturday over a stout Fort Sumner team.

Sophomore outside hitter Cambree Benavidez, in her first volleyball match since reconstructive knee surgery in January, pounded down a match-high 18 kills, including six in the fifth and deciding set.

The Lady Rattlers had hoped their spiking depth would prove decisive in matches, and that became the case Saturday. Tucumcari totaled 40 kills to Fort Sumner's 33.

Tucumcari also had four players - senior July Lafferty, junior Kyla Lopez and Cambree's big sister Caylee, a senior - with six kills or more. The Vixens had two.

"We have three very, very strong hitters and great passers," THS coach Dana Benavidez said. "We started making sure we were getting the balls to run our offense to the right people."

The Lady Ratters encountered trouble early in the match with Vixens hitter Allyssa Casaus, who totaled a team-high 17 kills. She powered Fort Sumner to big leads during a 25-15 win in the first set and led a 9-1 run for a 25-22 win in the second.

After the second-set loss, Tucumcari's coach gave her team a pep talk.

"I told them they have the heart to win, and they've just got to play smoother and more under control. And they started to," she recalled.

Caylee Benavidez, captain of the team, could be seen directing traffic several times for newer players on the floor.

"I just told them they're on varsity for a reason," she said. "We got to play like you have to think every ball is yours. You got to play hard. That's what I told them. And they did."

Coach Benavidez also made a key strategy change - assign setter Caylee on blocking duty, as well.

"(Casaus) is an amazing hitter, and so we changed up our defense. Caylee was middle blocking and setting, and it's hard to do because it's a lot of steps. We got great blocking out of her and Kyla. And it was key to winning those games," the coach said.

"It was hard to middle block and set. But I'll do it for my team," Caylee said.

Casaus totaled just seven kills in the final three sets.

Fort Sumner coach Sonya Williams said her team didn't adjust well to Tucumcari's defensive change.

"We weren't communicating enough with each other on the floor to be able to help with that situation. That hurt us," she said.

In the third set, the Lady Rattlers went on a late 7-2 run to take a 22-14 lead. Lafferty and Cambree Benavidez each made four kills during the 25-19 victory.

In the fourth set, Lopez served seven straight times during a 7-0 run, giving Tucumcari a 19-13 lead. Cambree Benavidez made another four kills during the 25-20 win, forcing a fifth set.

Tucumcari trailed 8-6 at one point. Lafferty made a kill and an ace and Lopez pounded home a kill during a 6-2 run to give their team a 12-10 lead.

With her team clinging to a 13-12 edge, Cambree Benavidez executed two successive kills to win the set and the match.

"She wanted the ball, and I gave it to her," Caylee said.

Tucumcari will play Thursday and Saturday at the Logan Varsity Tournament.