NMMI Sports Press
The New Mexico Military Institute Lady Colt volleyball team pulled off their second straight-set district victory, exorcising any doubts about their playing ability – along with the visiting Dexter Demons.
Last Tuesday the Colts knocked off the state’s fourth-ranked team in Class 3A, also in straight sets, to earn their first ‘W’ in district.
That momentum continued into Thursday’s home match against Dexter, with the Lady Colts winning with lopsided scores: 25-13, 25-13, 25-15.
Freshman outside hitter Kaytlyn Lackey was the hero against the Rattlers on Tuesday, knocking down double-digit kills from the outside for the Colts.
Tonight against the Demons, it was the Brazilian combo of junior Sara Pires on the right side and freshman Vitoria Assis in the middle racking up the kill-count.
NMMI’s backrow play, anchored by seniors libero Ashlynn Irish and Yasmeen Marrufo, was already a solid component of the Lady Colt game plan. But here in the last two matches of the regular season, the Institute’s offense has caught fire. Sophomore Mia Martinez now has multiple threats all along the front row on the set, regardless of the rotation, including senior outside hitter Anastasia Ament and senior middle blocker Paulina Sanchez.
The win improves the Colts’ record to 10-12 on the season and 2-4 in district. And NMMI’s second-year head coach Chantale Riddle hopes that will be enough for her squad to earn a slot in the state playoffs.
“I think we’re at the top of our rollercoaster, which is great place to be at the end of the season. These kids fight super hard and they have so much fun. They care and they want it,” said coach Riddle about the season’s end and a chance to compete at State. “It finally clicked, here at the end of the season and we just hope that we can get that bid to state.”
Coach Riddle also had high praise for her four seniors, playing in their last match at home. “These seniors worked incredibly hard, all season long, giving everything they had. I think they’ve been very appreciative about what NMMI has given them and I absolutely love what they have given us and the program.”
Coach Riddle and her Lady Colt will have to wait until Sunday afternoon and the NMAA’s 2:00 pm video reveal to find out if they’ll make the 12-team state championship pool for Class 3A. If they do, it will be the first time since the program moved from playing as an independent school and into Class 3A’s District 4 during the 2020-21 school year.
Pool play for seeding begins in on Thursday, Nov. 12 at the Rio Rancho Events Center.