The Pojoaque Elkettes volleyball team didn’t lose even a game in their first two matches against District 2AAA rivals last week.
Pojoaque’s win Oct. 1 over the Robertson Lady Cardinals was particularly satisfying because it came on Robertson’s home court in Las Vegas.
“We played the best volleyball we’ve played all season,” Pojoaque coach Brian Ainsworth said. “The team came out ready to play and made a statement.”
Pojoaque won by scores of 25-12, 25-17, 25-19, putting up a formidable defense against the Cardinals’ hitters.
“We had 14 block kills,” Ainsworth said. “They couldn’t get it past our front row.”
Middle hitters Kira Trujillo and Elizabeth Gomez combined for 24 kills against the Cardinals. Outside hitters Dionna Montoya and Tamarra Vigil had 11 kills apiece, and right side hitter Lindsay Longacre added seven kills.
“Total balance,” Ainsworth said. “We’re very balanced and don’t look to one player to take over a game.”
Trujillo and Gomez were also key to Pojoaque’s 25-20, 25-19, 26-24 home victory Oct. 3 over the Santa Fe Indian Lady Braves Oct. 3 in Pojoaque. Trujillo led Pojoaque with 12 kills, and Gomez added eight.
“Our middles are just dominating,” Ainsworth said. “They’re consistently putting up big blocks.”
Trujillo, a senior, has been playing with a sore shoulder since she strained it Sept. 12 at Piedra Vista.
“When the adrenaline gets going, you don’t feel it,” she said. “You do a lot more than just hitting and that’s why I love the middle.”
The Braves finally pushed Pojoaque in the third game. Indian School overcame a 16-9 deficit to tie the score at 22-22 and took a 23-22 lead on a kill by Lakesha Padilla.
The Braves fought off one game point with Pojoaque leading 24-23, but a Trujillo kill and a service winner gave the victory to Pojoaque.
“We looked like ourselves in spurts,” Indian School coach Seatha Chavez said. “We weren’t able to get the ball to our hitters so they didn’t get a chance to swing.”
The Braves fell to 1-1 in District 2AAA.
Pojoaque hosts West Las Vegas Thursday (10/8) and travels to Raton Saturday. Raton is off to a surprising 2-0 start in District 2AAA and tied with the Elkettes for first place.
“We’re challenged each night in our district,” Ainsworth said. “That makes us a better volleyball team.”