On Thursday evening, New Mexico Military Institute opened the 2024 high school volleyball season with a dominant 3-0 straight set victory over Loving High at the Godfrey Athletic Center Gym.

The Lady Colts opened the first set scoring the first three points of the season to kick start the dominant performance. Despite a back and forth by both teams in the middle of the set, Lady Colt Volleyball was able to go on a run of seven straight points to create the separation they needed. Scoring the final two points, the Lady Colts ended the set with a 25-17 victory. Head Coach Chantale Riddle was pleased with what she saw from her leaders, junior Mia Martinez and senior Sara Pires. “Martinez did a good job of leading the team and helping the others out … Pires scored when we needed it and helped others out,” Riddle said.

Continuing momentum from the first set, the Lady Colts started the second set with a 9-2 run – forcing a Loving High timeout. Igniting the fire in the run was libero Juniper Temple who helped score 12 consecutive points off her service. Throughout the set, she contributed to 16 of the 25 points, all coming from her service – enough to help the Lady Colts earn a 25-11 set two victory.

The final set ended in a 25-16 win for the Lady Colts, where both teams found their gear as the longest run of the set lasted four straight points for NMMI.

Chantale Riddle opened her third season at the helm for the Lady Colts and believes the squad is moving in the right direction. “It was nice to go out there and be dominant… they’re showing they can work hard, they can be focused and play a full game.” With a long season still ahead learning from game one is important, “you see what you can work on and we’re going to use every game until district to practice.”

The Lady Colts will make the trip to Truth or Consequences, NM on Saturday, Aug. 24 for a matchup with Hot Springs High at 2:30 p.m.