Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press
District 4-3A play is just a week and three days away.
For now, the New Mexico Military Institute Colt volleyball team has been trying to put the little things together.
On Monday night, the Colts showed in one set what they’re capable of when they play to their full potential.
Unfortunately, NMMI suffered a four-set loss to the Tatum Coyotes, 25-17, 19-25, 25-14, 25-20, at the Godfrey Athletic Center.
Tatum (9-5) started off the opening set on a 3-0 run.
NMMI later cut the deficit to two after Olive Amechi got a kill off a push.
A kill by Emily Spaniel kept the Colts in range as they trailed 6-4 before Tatum shifted into third gear to pull ahead by 10 points.
Trailing 19-9 late in the set, NMMI erased the double-digit deficit in half after Amechi served up an ace.
The comeback was too late as the Coyotes took the set by eight.
Just like the opening game, Tatum led 3-1 to start the second set until Spaniel tied up the score at three-all with a kill. Tatum later regained the lead by nine points.
Aided by a few errors by the Coyotes, NMMI trailed by four points after a service ace by Taylor Conrad.
The deficit was then chiseled down to one with another clutch kill by Spaniel.
All the momentum had shifted over to NMMI as it tied up the set at 19-all.
The Colts (4-12) closed out the set on a 6-0 run that featured two crucial kills by Spaniel and a service ace from Amechi.
With the match tied up, NMMI came out with a slight 3-2 lead.
Tatum later pulled ahead to lead by four points. A block by Daniela Laporte kept NMMI within reach for a while.
The Coyotes then increased their lead to seven to eventually take the third set 25-14.
In the final set, there were two early lead changes.
Getting a couple kills from Spaniel and Anastasia Ament, the Colts trailed by two before the Coyotes pulled ahead by seven points.
NMMI cut the deficit down to one at one instance, but Tatum prevailed with the 25-20 victory.
The Colts travel to Ruidoso at 6:30 p.m. Thursday before beginning the final stretch of the regular season Thursday, Oct. 21 at Tucumcari.