The Española Valley volleyball team extended its winning streak to four matches and improved to 2-0 in District 2AAAA with a 25-14, 25-14, 25-16 win over the Taos Tigers Oct. 3 in Española.
Española has been on a roll ever since sophomore outside hitter Madlyn Romero returned to the lineup. Romero suffered a bruised shin in the opening game of the Tournament of Champions Sept. 18 in Santa Fe; the Sundevils suffered through a three-game losing streak with her out of the lineup.
“She helps us stay positive,” setter Karli Salazar said. “She and (Marisol Peña) are the spirit of the team.”
Peña is the senior middle blocker, who sat out last season with a knee injury.
The Sundevils started their winning streak Sept. 26 with a 3-0 victory over Cobre at the Sandia Prep Invitational Tournament. They defeated Bernalillo 3-0 Sept. 26 to finish fifth at the tournament, then knocked off Capital 25-17, 17-25, 25-19, 25-19 in their District 2AAAA opener Sept. 30 in Santa Fe.
The victory over Capital avenged an earlier 3-1 loss Sept. 26 to the Jaguars at the Tournament of Champions. That loss started the Sundevils’ ealier three-game skid. Tournament games do not count in District 2AAAA standings.
The key to Española’s recent success has a lot to do with the amount of noise they make on the court.
“We’re communicating and controlling the ball really well,” Peña said. “When we aren’t playing well we get quiet. When we get loud it’s better.”
The Sundevils had an easy time with Taos, a team they had already defeated 3-0 at the Tournament of Champions. After racing out to an 11-1 lead in the first game, coach Damon Salazar freely substituted some of his reserves in to give them experience, he said. Eighth-grader Kayla Romero recorded the match-winning point with a kill in the third game.
“For an eighth grader, she’s amazing,“ Karli Salazar said.
The Sundevils take on Moriarty, the defending Class AAAA state champion, Thursday (10/8) at home The Pintos lost several key players to graduation and are just 6-6 on the season, including two losses to Los Alamos.
The Hilltoppers are the defending District 2AAAA champions and are coached by former Española coach Garry Maskaly, who guided the Sundevils last season. The Sundevils take on the Hilltoppers Saturday in Los Alamos.
“For us, it’s basically all mental,” Karli Salazar said. “We need to keep talking, stay focused and support each other.”