Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press
Entering their first season competing in a district, the New Mexico Military Institute Colt volleyball team found themselves with a unique opportunity to claim the District 4-3A title against county rival Dexter.
On Thursday evening, with fans in attendance for the first time at the Godfrey Athletic Center, the Colts played in their first four-set match after having played nine straight matches in straight sets.
NMMI fought hard but ended up dropping to the Demons, 14-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-16.
Looking at the state playoff picture, there are five district champions that earn automatic bids while only three teams can pick up an at-large bid.
It is still unclear how NMMI stacks up, but the state brackets will be released Saturday.
“It showed me and all of the girls that we can compete with the teams in this district. I just hope it gives all of them the confidence going into next season,” said NMMI head coach Stephanie Schooley.
To start the match, the Colts had to endure a pair of ties before going on a 3-0 run that included a clutch kill by Olive Amechi.
Dexter (6-6, 4-0) then tied up the set once more until NMMI picked up momentum and gained a six-point lead.
Amechi had a big block to pick up a point for the Colts and then she created another point off a tip on a strong swing that eventually helped extend NMMI’s lead to 10.
The second set began with three early ties in the score. JayCee Payne picked up a kill to tie the game at 5-5 which ignited NMMI leading to an 8-6 lead.
Dexter fought back and tied the game twice more before taking a five-point lead late into the set.
On a tip by Rilan Maloney, the Colts cut the deficit down to three points but they couldn’t erase it as the Demons tied up the match.
The Demons began the third set with a 3-0 run until NMMI tied up the score and took a 5-4 lead on a kill by Amechi.
Dexter tied things up at 6-6 before the Colts battled back to tie the score at 12-12 after an ace by Payne.
NMMI (4-6, 2-2) held a slight 15-13 lead with a key kill by Morgan Lynch.
The Demons tied up the set at 15-all and used a dominating 9-0 run to take a nine-point lead to eventually take a 2-1 lead in the match.
NMMI had the lead twice early in the fourth set but didn’t have enough left in the tank to force a pivotal fifth set.
For seniors Maloney, Payne, Lynch and Jasmine Munoz, it was a season to remember after having to wait a year and three months to get back onto the court during this ongoing pandemic.
“I wanted them to put every ounce of energy they had (and) leave it all on the floor tonight. They did,” Schooley added. “I’m super proud of all that the girls have been through this year and (how they) stepped up and (had) such a successful season.”