On Thursday evening, New Mexico Military Institute opened their 2025 campaign with a 3-0 win against Eastern Arizona College to close out day one of the 17th Annual NMMI Classic. With the win, NMMI opens the season with a victory for the fifth consecutive year. The Broncos start the season 1-0, with a trio of games remaining at the NMMI Classic of the weekend. 

Set 1

To open the season, neither team was able to establish rhythm as both teams traded points almost every other point. After Eastern Arizona took the first point of the match, the Broncos were able to knot the set more than three times as the match was tied 12-12.

However, Eastern Arizona was able to establish a three point as they went ahead 21-18 – forcing a NMMI timeout. Following the timeout, the Broncos rallied off three points to force an Eastern Arizona college as the set was tied 21-21. Michelle Mlikan changed the momentum with one of her 12 kills on the evening as the set was once again tied at 22. From that point on, NMMI closed off the set with three consecutive points to take the first set of the season, 25-22.

Set 2

Much like the first set, the middle set started off with a back and forth as both sides attempted to figure out their opponent. Early on, the Broncos trailed 5-3 but regained the lead, 6-5, after Tessa Watson scored on her service. Establishing momentum, NMMI took an 11-7 lead, forcing an Eastern Arizona timeout. The Broncos were able to take a slight lead but Eastern Arizona would not go away.

After trailing 14-11, the Gila Monsters played good defense and knotted the set at 15-16 before taking a one-point lead. Tied at 17-17, Eastern Arizona looked like they would run off with the middle set as they jumped out to a 22-18 lead. Following an NMMI timeout, the Broncos closed out the set on a 8-2 run as they took the middle set 26-24 with the help of a thunderous kill by freshman Anniston Lustig – one of her 10 kills on the evening.

Set 3

Early on in the final set NMMI looked to be in control as they held a lead throughout the entire first half of the set as they led 14-11. Once again, Eastern Arizona didn't shy away from the moment as they battled their way to a 15-14 lead – their first of the third set.

Neither side slowed down as the next few points saw a tie match at 16-16, 17-17 and 18-18 after Mlikan drilled a ball past the middle blockers. However, the Broncos fled their way to end the match as they ended the final set on a 7-1 run to secure the 3-0 win with a 25-19 set three sweep.

Head Coach Shelby Forchtner on the first win of the season, "We still have a lot of work to do, but it's nice to get the first win of the season under your belt versus a good opponent like Eastern Arizona," Forchtner said. "It was a good matchup for us, they were able to utilize their middle blockers more than us but once we started serving more aggressively and got them out of system we were able to control the end of the sets because of it." After trailing late in every set, "the message was to get back even … we went out there got even, then took control to finish off all three sets," Forchtner said.

Up Next

The Broncos continue play at the NMMI Classic tomorrow afternoon with a 1 pm match against Laramie County CC, before capping off day two with a 7 pm matchup versus Jefferson College in the Cahoon Armory Gym.