On Saturday morning, New Mexico Military Institute completed a straight-set win over Tyler Junior College to open day three of the 17th Annual NMMI Classic at the Cahoon Armory Gym. With their third sweep of the weekend, the Broncos open the season with a perfect 4-0 mark. With the loss, Tyler Junior College opens their season with a 0-3 start, after dropping a pair of five-set matches.
Set 1
After an impressive three games to open the season, Michelle Mlikan kept the same momentum to open the match as she earned the first point for NMMI with a floater just over a pair of middle blockers. However, Tyler fought their way to a 9-8 lead with the help of some offensive mistakes by the Broncos early on. Leila Ayala helped change the dynamic of the set halfway through with a service ace that started a run for the Institute.
After growing the lead with the help of one of Anniston Lustig's 10 kills, Tyler was forced to call a timeout to attempt to slow down the home team as they trailed 19-15. Up four points, NMMI kept applying the pressure with great defense as they didn't allow any easy points to fall. After Mlikan forced another Tyler timeout with a kill, she secured the first set with a kill that was too much for the defenders to handle as the Broncos won the first set 25-18.
Set 2
The middle set was a tale of two stories. First, Tyler took control with a 6-2 lead before holding a commanding 21-14, which forced an NMMI timeout. The Apaches looked to be running away with the second set but the Broncos had other plans.
Following the timeout, NMMI was able to score four consecutive points to make it a 21-18 game, which forced Tyler to call a timeout. Down three, the home team found another gear as they battled their way to a 22-21 game after earning the point on a long rally. Drianyeliz Ramos Cora tied the match at 22 with her lone service ace on the match. After being tied at 23, Mlikan came up big to give NMMI a 24-23 lead before Anniston Lustig captured the come from behind win with a kill to give the Broncos a two-set advantage.
Set 3
With all the momentum from the end of the middle set on their side, the Broncos took an 8-7 lead and didn't look back. Leila Ayala left her mark with a trio of consecutive service aces to give the Institute a 10-7 lead. Not backing down, Tyler extended the match and got within one point but NMMI would not give up the lead.
Tessa Watson recorded a service ace to break a 12-12 tie, which helped propel the Broncos to a strong finish. After a Tyler timeout, Anniston Lustig blasted a kill over the net to put the home in the driver's seat, 20-13. After a strong finish to the end of the set, the Broncos earned the straight-set win with a 25-18 score in the final set.
Head Coach Shelby Forchtner on the team's performance over the weekend, "This team is gritty, we can still work through things when we're down and everything isn't falling our way," Forchtner said. "The kids don't want to give up even after being down 21-14. That was the conversation in the huddle we asked why not go out and win this set? We told them if we were able to get them out of system, we would be able to get some easy points and that's exactly what happened," Forchtner said. "This team has depth, something we hadn't had in the last few years, I look over at the bench and there's someone to put in the game and be just as successful," Forchtner said.
UP NEXT
The Broncos continue play on Thursday, August 28 as they take on Missouri State University – West Plains at 5:30 pm CDT at the Dodge City Invite. NMMI is scheduled to play Lee College and Miami Dade on Friday before ending the invite on Saturday, August 30 with a pair of games against Barton Community College and Dodge City Community College.