NMMI Sports Press

The Bronco volleyball team opened the 2017 season in grand fashion as they posted a 2-0 record on the opening day of the 10th annual NMMI Classic Volleyball Tournament in Roswell Friday.

The opener vs. South Mountain saw the Institute win 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-13.

After winning the first set against South Mountain Community College easily, the Broncos came out in the second set little stale.

"We definitely had some first game jitters and we struggled a little bit the second game. In the first game you could tell both sides were a little nervous to go up, take their big swings and do what we both have been doing in practice," said coach Shelby Forchtner.

After the second set loss, the Broncos came out in the third firing on all cylinders and never looked back.

"After the second game, our team kicked in and realized that we shouldn't have dropped that game and we maintained our lead for the next two games, but then we transitioned into the third game and forgot everything we had just done, "said Forchtner.

Sophomore setter Mirna Kovačević was putting the ball where the Bronco hitters could make a play on it. She ended the match with six kills and 21 assists.

Forchtner nodded, "Our setter Mirna did a really good job. She's not used to swinging and we are forcing her to be an attacker."

Kovačević is a native of Serbia and is 6-foot-2, which shows why Coach Forchtner wants her attacking the ball.

Freshman libero Karime Raygoza, a Las Vegas, Nev., native, had a stellar defensive performance with 18 digs in the match.

"Karime played a really good game defensively and in serve receive," Forchtner said. "She was one of our most consistent moving parts on the floor throughout the entire game and she served and passed really well."

In the second match of the day, the Broncos defeated a scrappy Garden City team 28-26, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17.

"Garden City was a tough matchup for us because they are very scrappy; they get their hands on a lot of balls and they served well. I think that is what ultimately won us the game because we started passing and digging better than them and we were able to score in transitions," Forchtner added.

Gali Sanchez shined throughout the match as she racked up six kills for the Lady Broncos and Raygoza had another strong defensive performance.

"Gali and Karime played really good tonight and those two stood out among everyone else," said Forchtner.

The Lady Broncos will finish up the Classic with two games on Saturday.

The first game starts at 10 a.m. versus Hutchinson Community College.