The Pojoaque Valley High School volleyball team started a new and perhaps unusual tradition this year.
Normally, when announcing the team over public address, each member would grab a t-shirt or something similar to toss into the crowd. Last year, with heavy crowd restrictions due to COVID-19 (when fans were allowed into the gymnasium, none were permitted in the lower section) that did not happen.
So for this fall, they have adapted – when each player is announced, she runs to team coach Joe Rodriguez, who hands her a Pojoaque-themed face mask, and tosses it into the crowd. The masks do not fly quite as smoothly as a balled-up shirt would, but a fun tradition marks the unusual times they play through.
“It seemed fitting now that everyone has to wear a mask,” Rodriguez said. “We were going to throw out food, but we can’t eat in here. We just try to get the crowd involved.”
The Elkettes started the year Aug. 26 with a sweep (25-17, 25-8, 25-22) over Sandia Prep, looking like a strong and polished team.
“I think it’s really exciting,” said senior setter Taylor Quintana. “I’m honestly so glad to be playing with all my friends again, and get the feel of the ball again.”
Sandia Prep won the state championship in 3A (Pojoaque plays a classification higher in 4A) in the spring 2021 season, not losing a set in the entire state tournament, and brought back much of the same talent.
“We’re young, I had my younger ones really step up tonight,” Rodriguez said. “We’re not very big. We pass very well, and we serve very well.”
In the first set, Pojoaque let up two aces to start the match. Then, they won six straight points, and continued to pick up steam.
The Elks took a big lead early in set two, and stretched it even further with four straight aces by eighth grader Larissa Rodriguez – part of the Elkettes’ 12 aces on the night.
The third set was much closer, with the Elks trailing 21-18 before rattling off five straight points to close out the match 25-22.
Quintana at setter, in her first time at the position, was consistently in rhythm throughout the match, especially with junior middle hitter Sonya Quintana (no relation.)
Sonya Quintana led the Elkettes with eight kills in the match and three blocks. Taylor Quintana had 19 assists in the match as a strong three-set performance.
“It’s really exhilarating,” Taylor Quintana said. “We get really excited when Sonya gets down on that ball. It’s a really good feeling.”
The game boasted a relatively small but vocal audience – especially from many members of the football team who stayed in the gymnasium after their practice let out. Their loud chants, especially in the third set, gave Pojoaque a new energy late in the match.
“A lot of students don’t usually come to our games,” Taylor Quintana said. “It’s nice to have that support from our school.”
“That’s something you can’t recreate,” Rodriguez said, and they would return the favor at the football game the next day. “Their energy, their voice. It did help. The girls appreciated that, too.”
Taylor Quintana said the teamwork and dedication was the biggest part of their early success.
Pojoaque is rebounding from the loss of a talented senior class, including setter Ayana Aguirre and middle blocker Alicia Quintana (Sonya’s older sister) among others.
“Honestly, that kept me up at night,” Rodriguez said of finding their replacements, and the lack of success they had for their senior year. “You don’t. That’s every year. You know what, you compete with what you have.”
The younger Pojoaque teams similarly rolled through their opponents in sweeps. The ‘C’ team won 25-3, 25-10, and the junior varsity team was victorious 25-20, 25-9.
The Elkettes continued their season Tuesday evening against Robertson, another successful 3A program as the state champions in 2019, with the game not completed by press deadline. Pojoaque next plays Friday at the Moriarty Tournament – and Rodriguez is excited for them to compete in tournaments throughout September.