NMMI Sports Press

The Lady Colt [1-2] varsity volleyball team dropped their second straight match at home, falling in five sets to cross-town rival Gateway Christian [2-0].

The Lady Warriors swept through the first two sets in convincing fashion - 25-14 and 25-20 -  and looked to close out the match in short order with a three-set sweep.

But NMMI rallied back two take the next two sets in very similar, but reversed, scores: 25-15 and 25- 21-25.

In the fateful fifth and final set, the Lady Warriors surged out in front to an early 8-1 lead.

The Institute battled back to close the gap, but could never get closer than a two-point difference, with  Gateway taking Set 5, 15-10, to earn their second win of the season  and keep their perfect record intact.

“I’m really proud of the girls,” said head NMMI coach Stephanie Schooley. “We definitely could have just rolled over and died after losing the first two sets. This just shows a lot about their character, about their fight, that we were about to take it to a fifth set.”

Due to an injury, the Lady Colts were forced to use a different rotation than what they had been using their previous two matches.

“This was the first time we’ve played with a libero in the line-up,” explained coach Schooley. “We had to mix things up a bit. We had one day to try out the new line-up and the girls came out and did pretty well - still a little bit of confusion, but I’m really proud of how we stepped up. I’ve got to give it to these girls for staying with it for five sets.”

Next week will be a busy one for the Lady Colts with a 6 pm match on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at Loving; back at home vs. Lake Arthur for a 5 pm match on Thursday; then competing in Gateway’s Warrior Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

“We’ve got a big week ahead of us,” finished Schooley “no time to relax.”