The air conditioning was out in the gymnasium, one team did not show up at the right time, and teams were still adjusting to the start of the season and working on conditioning.
But all of the teams made it through nonetheless for a successful tournament in its first year.
While there were bumps in the road, Coronado played host to a volleyball tournament on its home court, where the Leopards took second place.
Tse’ Yi’ Gai, Tierra Encantada, and Shiprock Northwest were at the tournament.
In the championship, Tse’ Yi’ Gai defeated Coronado 25-5, 25-12. Coronado had defeated Tierra Encantada in the semifinals in three sets (out of three).
The teams played a round robin pool play on Aug. 25, and the following day had the championship matches. They shifted the schedule around due to various issues, opting to play through, and had the final done by 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Coronado Athletic Director Scott Meihack said he used to host similar tournaments when he worked at Jemez Valley.
Last year, Monique Garcia coached the basketball team, and she shifts to volleyball this year.
“I figured, I have my coaching license, and I love volleyball,” she said. “So it was just an opportunity for me to step in and fill the gap. Hopefully we can build a program over time.”
Garcia is captaining the team after they finished a strong 15-7 in 2022 but just outside the tournament field under coach Jerald Baca. But Garcia has work cut out with six seniors gone from that team, and a squad this year filled with eighth-graders and freshmen. With older players not available for their first weekend, Coronado played with a short bench and almost entirely freshmen and eighth-graders.
“Everybody got playing time,” Garcia said. “Just getting everybody used to the rhythm and stuff.”
Garcia expects senior Maleah Garcia-Smith to have a big role on the team, as well as sophomore Addison Tixier. And they have an eighth-grade captain in Melody Chacon, who Garcia said has already stepped up as a team leader.
Coronado’s next match comes Saturday at Hozho Academy (1-2).
The Leopards plan to continue hosting a tournament in their gymnasium, and expand the tournament in the future.
“It would’ve been great to have a few other teams,” Garcia said. “Hopefully, next year we can (host) maybe like an 8-team tournament. Just so we can have more people coming and utilizing the facilities to the capacity.”