Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
It was a special season for the New Mexico Military Institute Bronco volleyball team after it finished 37-5 overall and ranked as the ninth-best program in the country.
NMMI started off its season with an impressive 27-game winning streak.
Six players signed their letter of intents to play at the next level.
The unique thing about this squad was their competitiveness and strong connection, which in the long run helped make the Broncos a better team.
"The thing that I think of whenever I think of this group is just the bond that they shared together as a group," said NMMI head coach Shelby Forchtner. "They started off the season 27-0 and you wouldn't have known it.
"They were just smooth, steady, consistent and they just really liked being around each other. There was good team chemistry. They all pushed each other. That just made us better."
Ha'ahulakaleikaimanapo'aikalakahikikapuiholaneikeku'ina "Hula" Crisostomo |Sophomore (DS/L) | Signed with UTEP
One of the most decorated volleyball players at NMMI last season, Crisostomo led NJCAA Division I with 921 digs while she ranked third in digs per set (6.22). She also recorded 172 assists.
She finished her career with 1,575 digs. Crisostomo had a game-high 41 digs this past season during a four-set win over Frank Phillips College on Oct. 2.
As a freshman, Crisostomo averaged 4.61 digs a match with 654 total digs tallied.
Crisostomo was tabbed first team All-American by the NJCAA and she also earned second team All-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
In addition to earning Most Valuable Player honors from the Western Junior College Athletic Conference, Crisostomo was named conference player of the week four times.
She also picked up NJCAA Division I defensive player of the week honors twice.
Crisostomo will play for Ben Wallis at UTEP who took over the helm of the program in 2018.
"Hula basically started every game for us as a freshman and sophomore in the libero position. She was a key component to our defense. She had phenomenal leadership skills on and off the court. She's an overly competitive kid. She has a high work ethic. In fact, there were times in practice that we wanted her to tone it down a notch. She's diving into bleachers and it was just practice. When she was out there, she just gave 110 percent and it didn't matter if it was practice or game mode. We're gonna miss her just because she's been so solid for us." — Shelby Forchtner
Alyssa Lukasik | Freshman (Middle) | Signed with West Point
Lukasik will finally get her chance to attend West Point after not getting direct acceptance out of high school.
Attending NMMI, a prep school for the service academies, Lukasik did everything she needed to do in order to get into the storied academy.
In one season, Lukasik had 298 kills and 24 blocked shots as a full-time starter. On Sept. 18, she recorded a season-high 13 kills in a five-set win over New Mexico Junior College.
She will now get an opportunity to play with former NMMI standout Peyton Schendt at Army.
"Most of the prep schools do not have sports and so a lot of times that's why we get the turnover of some of those athletes at NMMI. She was onboard to come to NMMI. She was locked in from the minute she got here with everything. She did a great job for us and because she did everything that she needed to do she was able to get her appointment to West Point." — Shelby Forchtner
Brittany Breland | Freshman (Middle) | Signed with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Appearing in 11 matches and tallying 10 kills for the Broncos this past season, Breland accomplished her overall goal by being accepted into the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., after prepping at NMMI.
The Merchant Marine Academy competes at the NCAA Division III level. Breland has a shot to make an immediate impact alongside future teammate Jourdin Thompson who also attended NMMI.
"She's kind of like Alyssa as she was trying to get into the Merchant Marine Academy, and she was one point off. She reached out to us and asked if she could come here. She was similar, did a great job in the classroom, did a great job in the corps of cadets. She didn't really get to play that much because she was playing behind Alyssa but still, she's a great little volleyball player. I think she's gonna be able to go to the Merchant Marine Academy and be able to probably step in and do some work for them right away." — Shelby Forchtner
Gabriela De Jesus Colon | Freshman (Setter) | Signed with Culver-Stockton College
De Jesus is getting a chance to further her volleyball career at Culver-Stockton College, an NAIA school in Canton, Mo., for the next three years.
In 12 matches played at NMMI, she tallied 60 assists and 23 digs.
De Jesus had a season-high 14 assists during a match against Andrews College on Sept. 27.
"Gaby came to us in the spring of last year. Technically, this was her freshman year even though she went to a school in Puerto Rico for the fall semester and didn't play volleyball. She was able to graduate because of her hours. She's gonna be able to play somewhere for three years. She kind of got to go in sporadically but I think she's picked the right level for her. This is a good spot for her. I think if she goes in and works hard, she'll do well there. I'm excited for her." — Shelby Forchtner
Gabriela Langi | Sophomore (Middle/Opp.) | Signed with New Mexico Highlands University
One of the most versatile and skilled players on the court, Langi has played every front row position in her two-year career at NMMI.
Langi had 285 kills and 99 digs this past season while as a freshman she compiled 312 kills, five blocked shots and 65 digs.
She had a season-high 12 kills this past year against Yavapai College on Aug. 31. She later matched her game-best mark three more times.
Langi will travel north to Las Vegas, N.M., to play for the NCAA Division II program.
"We brought her in wanting her to play the outside position. She played on the outside all year as a freshman and then the more and more we started working with her she just seemed a better fit for us on the right outside. She was a great blocker. We moved her to the opposite this season. She did a great job over there too. She played in pretty much every game for us as a freshman and sophomore. I think that she will be able to do that same thing for New Mexico Highlands. I think she'll be able to contribute right away. She's a hard worker, a beast in the weight room. She's gonna go into that place in shape. I think it's a good fit for her. I'm excited for her." — Shelby Forchtner
Coralys Maldonado | Sophomore (Middle/Opp.) | Signed with West Virginia Tech
Despite being a 5-foot-8 middle/opposite position player, Maldonado proved that height is just a number.
In her two years with NMMI, she compiled 45 kills, two assists, one blocked shot and 15 digs in 33 matches played.
She had a season-high seven kills this past year during a sweep of Andrews College on Sept. 27.
Maldonado will be a great fit at the NAIA school in Beckley, W.Va.
"She was pretty much like middle dominant in high school and whenever she got here it was just really hard for her to find a starting spot in the middle because she's really small. She's a great jumper, she's got a nice arm swing but she's 5-8. It was hard for her to beat out people in the middle, so we decided to move her to opposite side too. She's going to a place that is a good fit for her. She's a hard worker, she's a good leader. She's a kid that's gonna do everything a coach asks of her. Hopefully, she can kind of go in there and start from the very beginning." — Shelby Forchtner
Nyanuer Bidit | Sophomore (Middle/Opp.) | Signed with University of Southern Mississippi
Bidit blossomed on the scene of the NJCAA Division I national tournament this past season where she recorded a game-high eight kills during a four-set win over Odessa College on Nov. 23.
One of the most athletic players at NMMI, Bidit always came into the clutch by coming off the bench and igniting the game.
She finished with 76 kills this past season along with 28 digs. All in all, she has tallied 114 kills, two blocked shots and 33 digs in her two years at NMMI.
Bidit can make a big impact at Southern Miss next season.
"Nyanuer is probably one of the most athletic kids on our team. She just could not beat anybody out while she was here. Everybody was always beating her out and we could never figure out why because she was athletic. She worked hard and has done a really good job in the offseason and even got to go in at key times. There were lots of times through the course of the year that somebody wasn't doing their job and she'd able to go fill in for them. Even especially at the national tournament there was a handful of times that we had somebody who wasn't playing very well and she was usually one of the first that got to go in off the bench and she actually played really well there. She got seen by quite a few coaches and she's just an athletic kid. Those coaches can see that. She's going to a Division I school and as long as she can implement the work ethic that she's learned here, she can do really well." — Shelby Forchtner