On Wednesday evening New Mexico Military returned to the Cahoon Armory Gym after a month on the road with a 3-2 win over No. 14 Frank Phillips College. Earning their sixth ranked win of the season, the Broncos improved to 14-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play. With the loss, Frank Phillips dips to 10-2 on the year with a 2-1 conference mark. 

SET 1

To open the match, Anniston Lustig provided the first three points for the Broncos as she recorded three quick kills to help NMMI to an early 3-2 advantage. A few points later, Carola Schnidrig gave NMMI a 6-3 after she blasted a kill over the net.

Frank Phillips College responded with their own run to tie the set at 7-7. The visiting team took a 9-7 lead but NMMI answered quickly. The Broncos conducted a quick 3-0 run to enjoy a 12-9 lead after a defensive block by Carola Schnidrig and Maria Konwerska. The next few points, both teams battled as the set was tied at the 13, 14, 15th points. The Broncos earned the next two points, forcing a Frank Phillips timeout.

Up 17-15, NMMI conducted a 5-0 run to take a 20-15 lead but Frank Phillips would answer back. The Plainsmen were able to tie the set at 26-26 to cause some first-set drama. However, the Broncos finished the first set strong as they earned the final two points to take the first set 28-26. 

SET 2

Like the first set, the start of the second set was tightly contested. After the Broncos took a 5-1 lead, Frank Phillips fought back to a 5-4 deficit. Up by one point, NMMI found a different gear as they exploded to a 20-13 lead after back-to-back service errors by the Plainsmen.

Not shying away, Frank Phillips made it a 22-19 game but Xiomara Cobian extended the lead with a pair of kills late in the second set. Up by five points, the Broncos secured the second set as Maria Konwerska came up with a block to secure the second set 25-19. 

SET 3

The Broncos opened the middle set on a 7-2 run behind four kills by Anniston Lustig, who tallied 22 total kills on the evening. Looking like they would close out the match, NMMI enjoyed a 20-13 lead. 

However, Frank Phillips would close out the set on a 12-4 run to take the middle set 26-24. 

SET 4

With momentum for the third set, Frank Phllips battled in the fourth set as the Broncos held a slight 18-16 lead. The set score was tied on  multiple occasions but the turning point happened after a NMMI timeout after being down 18-19. 

Down by one point, NMMI made it a 22-22 game after a service ace by Michelle Mlikan, her only ace on the evening. However, the Plainsmen would take the fourth set 25-23 and extend the match to the fifth and final set. 

SET 5

With little separating the two teams, the final set saw a tie score at 1,2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8-8 after Daicy Benites Franco recorded one of her three kills on the evening. Drianyeliz Ramos Cora gave NMMI a 9-8 lead with her lone service ace on the evening. Benites Franco added another kill to give NMMI a 11-8 lead - their largest lead of the set. 

Frank Phillips responded with a small run to take a 13-12 lead. Down one, Anniston Lustig knotted the match at 13-13 with a ferocious kill. Maria Konwerska put the Broncos ahead with a block that set up Tessa Watson to secure the match 15-13 with a skip-set that caught the Plainsmen defenders off guard. 

Head Coach Shelby Forchtner on the win, "It's great to finally be back home and get a conference win on our floor. Every conference win this year will be tough. I'm hoping all these games will prepare us for the end of the season and that we just continue to improve with every set," Forchtner said. "We have to find ways to close out matches in three sets, especially when we're up 2-0 and big in the third set," Forchtner said. "We seem to relax sometimes and there's no need for that … no matter who the opponent is, you want to beat them as badly as you can and not relax." 

UP NEXT

NMMI returns to conference action on Saturday, September 27 as they host Western Texas College at 2 p.m. in the Cahoon Armory Gym.