Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari's Kyla Lopez tries to block a shot by Legacy Academy's Cheyenne Gonzoles during a match Friday at Rattler Gymnasium.
A nearly two-week break for the Tucumcari volleyball team couldn't come fast enough after a 25-10, 25-15, 25-14 home loss Friday to No. 2-ranked Legacy Academy.
After a 7-1 start, the Lady Rattlers have struggled to a 2-3 record after one of its best hitters and fielders, senior July Lafferty, suffered a sprained ankle during the Mora match.
THS coach Dana Benavidez said a back-row player - she didn't say who - also was absent from Friday's match and her top hitter from last season, sophomore Cambree Benavidez, "still is not where she needs to be" after major knee surgery in January.
The loss to the Silverbacks showed the Lady Rattlers need to regroup, the coach said.
"Legacy is very, very good. They don't make very many errors at all, but we have to have the confidence to play at that level no matter who's in the game. And sometimes we lose the confidence," she said.
Tucumcari's setter, senior Caylee Benavidez, wound up with a team-high five kills and two aces. Junior hitter Kyla Lopez made four kills and four blocks for points.
Legacy Academy (9-2) commanded a 36-12 advantage in kills and served 14 aces. Joslyn Alvarado led the team with eight kills, three aces and two blocks for points. Bailey Boll also made eight kills, and Cheyenne Gonzoles added seven kills.
Gitaik Hong, who hails from South Korea, apologized for his English beforehand when asked about his team's performance.
"It was OK," he said. "I want more team play, team control, team defense."
Legacy Academy originally was scheduled to play Logan, the top-ranked team in Class 1A, on Saturday, but it was rescheduled to Oct. 24.
Tucumcari seldom had a substantial lead in the match, including a 6-3 advantage in the second set. One of the few times the Lady Rattlers showed their potency was late in the second set, when they went win 6-1 run on three Caylee Benavidez kills and an ace.
Tucumcari doesn't play again until Oct. 10, when it opens district play at home against Santa Rosa. Lafferty is scheduled to have the boot removed from her injured ankle this week.
The break gives the THS coach's team an opportunity to reboot mentally.
"Now it's the second part of our season. I want them to believe in themselves. I want them to have confidence," Benavidez said.
Logan 3, Clayton 0
No. 1-ranked Logan kept rolling with a 25-10, 25-12, 25-8 road victory Thursday at Clayton.
Haylie Bidegain totaled a team-high 12 kills and four aces for the Lady Longhorns. Teammate Desta Rose deed seven kills, 10 digs and four aces. Charli Fuller made 19 assists.
The Lady Longhorns, ranked atop of Class 1A by both MaxPreps.com and the coaches poll, improved to 10-3 overall.
Clayton fell to 1-8.
Clovis Christian 3, San Jon 1
San Jon dropped a district match at Clovis Christian by a score of 22-25, 21-25, 25-22, 16-25 on Thursday.
The Lady Coyotes fell to 3-7 overall and 0-3 in district play.
Clovis Christian improved to 7-3 overall and 2-0 in the district.
Grady 3, San Jon 0
Visiting Grady overwhelmed San Jon 25-14, 25-11, 25-4 during a district match on Sept. 24.
Grady, ranked eighth in Class 1A by MaxPreps, improved to 9-3 overall and 1-0 in district play.
