On Wednesday afternoon New Mexico Military Institute opened play at the 2025 National Championships with a 3-1 loss to No. 7 seed Salt Lake City Community College. With the loss, the Broncos move to 24-10 and suffer back-to-back losses for the first time since August. Salt Lake City improved to 26-4 on a five-game win streak.

SET 1

The opening set would see multiple lead changes and multiple ties as both teams tried to figure each other out. Early on, the Broncos took an early 4-2 lead behind a massive kill by Anniston Lustig. However, the Bruins were able to find some rhythm as they took a 6-5 lead with the help of a service error by NMMI.

After being tied at 14-14, Salt Lake City jumped out to a 20-16 lead – their largest lead of the opening set. The Broncos responded with a 4-0 run to tie the set at 20-20. Carola Schnidrig and Maria Konwerska came up with a block to give the Broncos a 21-2o lead.

Late in the set, Leila Ayala gave NMMI a 27-26 advantage with one of teams 13 kills in the first set. Salt Lake City was able to close out the set with a 4-1 run as they won the opening set 30-28.

SET 2

In the second set NMMI opened the match with a 9-5 lead with the help of back-to-back kills by Drianyeliz Ramos Cora. From that point Salt Lake City responded with a 5-3 run as they trailed 12-10.

The next few points were back and forth as each team would answer each other's point. As both sides traded points, the game was tied 19-19 after Michelle Mlikan smashed one of her 11 kills in the afternoon. Anniston Lustig gave the Broncos a late 21-20 lead, but it wouldn't last.

Salt Lake City closed out the set on a 5-2 run as they took a 2-0 lead with a narrow 25-23 win in the second set.

SET 3

Down 2-0, the Broncos opened the third set with a 5-2 lead to set the tone for the third set. Every time Salt Lake City earns a point, the Broncos would earn two to stay in front early on in the set.

Michelle Mlikan gave the Broncos a 14-12 advantage with one of her three service aces in the match. Using that momentum, NMMI conducted a 5-1 run to take a commanding 19-14 lead. Salt Lake City attempted to end the game but NMMI had other ideas to extend the match into the fourth set.

The Broncos closed out the set on a 6-9 run where the Bruins got close but their comeback fell short as the NMMI defense made it a 2-1 match.  

SET 4

In the final set NMMI took a couple of early one-point leads but they did not last long as the Bruins responded to every point scored by the Institute. Michelle Mlikan gave NMMI a 8-7 with a kill but the Broncos were not able to hold onto their lead.

Salt Lake City conducted a 9-4 run as they jumped out to a 17-12 lead. The Broncos attempted to come back, but Salt Lake City had all the answers. The Bruins secured the final set 25-20 to win the match 3-1. With the win, the Bruins advance to the quarterfinals where they take on Weatherford College Thursday evening.

UP NEXT

NMMI will return to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. CST, when they take on Casper College in the Dunn Center on the campus of Austin Peay State University.