Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
When the New Mexico Military Institute volleyball team takes the court this week in west Texas it'll be a huge blessing.
For the last six months the team has been unable to scrimmage any outside competition due to the current public health order in New Mexico.
As a result of the health order, the Broncos are competing at a tournament in Odessa, Texas, from Jan. 22-23.
The tourney features a solid slate of teams such as College of Southern Idaho, Missouri State University-West Plains, Navarro, Vernon, Snow College and Odessa.
All the teams participating are national powerhouses including last year's national champions Navarro and College of Southern Idaho which captured titles in 2015 and 2018.
NMMI takes on Navarro at 11 a.m. CST on Day 1 to begin competition, followed by College of Southern Idaho at 5 p.m. CST.
On Day 2, the Broncos face Vernon at 2 p.m. CST before wrapping up the tournament with Missouri State University-West Plains at 5 p.m. CST.
Safety protocols will be enforced for the event with a fan capacity of 25 percent and temperature checks at the entrance.
"Pretty excited," said NMMI head coach Shelby Forchtner when asked about getting a chance to play. "It's gonna be really good for us to finally see people across the net.
"Our kids, at this point and time, are very willing to do anything that we ask them to do and sacrifice a lot to be able to do it."
NMMI finished 37-5 overall and 11-1 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference back in 2019.
The Broncos were the ninth-best junior college program in the nation at the NJCAA Division I Women's National Championships in Hutchinson, Kan., after beginning the season 28-0.
Entering her 16th season at the helm of the program, Forchtner's expectations remain high for her squad.
In the NJCAA Division I preseason poll, NMMI checks in at No. 16.
"COVID doesn't change our mentality," she said. "We still want to win conference, we still want to win every game that we play in. As long as I am here that's not going to change."
This year's team is well balanced with eight freshmen and six sophomores.
From top to bottom, the Broncos have a solid offense that is highlighted by a pair of sophomores: outside hitter Julia Johnson and Roswell native and Goddard High product Vittoria Price at middle.
Freshman Marian Ovalle, a native of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, has shown lots of consistency early on as the opposite side hitter.
NMMI also expects to get a lot of offensive firepower out of freshman outside hitter Darcy Dodd who led Hereford High School to the Class 4A state title match in Texas her senior season.
With the right tools in place on offense, the defense is having to replace highly decorated libero and current UTEP standout Hula Crisostomo in the backcourt.
Sophomore Kristijana Istuk has emerged out of the very tight race for the libero/defensive specialist position. One player that has been closely neck and neck for the starting job at libero is former Roswell High standout and freshman Jalen Baca.
Sophomore setters Tiffinay Gauspohl and Aniston Biel have also been equally consistent and emerging as leaders.
One big benefit due to the hiatus in competition has been preparation. The incoming freshmen have had six months to adjust to the program and military lifestyle rather than having two weeks to prep for a season.
"We have a great team nucleus. Our kids get along really well off of the court," Forchtner said. "We're in a situation where we're trying to mix up some lineups and see who matches up together, but for the most part we're solid in every position.
"In the freshmen class we got some good athletes that are pushing those sophomores on a daily basis, which is what you want."
The Broncos will remain in Odessa for the Wrangler Volleyball Classic which is held Jan. 28-30 before traveling to West Plains, Mo., for the Grizzly Invitational Feb. 5-6.
Conference play is slated to begin Feb. 13 at Odessa College.
"Our kids are excited about getting to play," Forchtner said. "When you get right back into it you feel really thankful and grateful to be able to continue to do what we do every day."