The Española Valley volleyball seniors have been with their coach for 10 years.
Española Coach Nicole Ortiz (formerly Romero; she married over the summer) graduated from Española Valley in 2015. During her time in high school, she coached a youth team with many of the players now at the school, coaching under then-head coach Damon Salazar.
“I think they, a little more, want to be here and want to do better,” she said. “And want to do justice for volleyball. They’re tired of losing.”
The Sundevils are looking to rebound after tough seasons, and to rebuild their program. Española cratered in 2022 to a 2-20 record, finishing the year on a 12-match losing streak. The year before, though they had won more matches early in the season, they again finished with 12 straight losses.
The Sundevils, now in their fourth year under Ortiz are looking to put together a complete team and compete in a strong district. And Ortiz was impressed at their performance at a summer tournament in Santa Fe.
The goals for this year?
“To not lose as many games as last year,” said senior Mercedes Gonzales.
An advantage: they have a full summer in their home gymnasium. Last summer, they were moved around due to renovations at the high school. Ortiz said that there have been more athletes with the team this year than in the past, leading to a junior varsity and C team full of freshmen. There will also be freshmen on the varsity team.
Only two senior starters depart from last year’s team, outside hitters Robyn Garcia and Rhianna Padilla (a third, Unica May, missed the entire season with an injury, but was a serving specialist in their final match). Much of the varsity team this year will have an extra year of experience as they should improve.
Española will shift to a “6-2” system this year, something they also used in 2021, where two setters rotate and three hitters always remain in the front row. Setting duties this year will be split between sophomore Leah Vigil and senior Hailey DeVargas. Both of them will also be hitters when in the front row.
“It feels good,” DeVargas said. “It’s nice to communicate and bring everybody together.”
For 2022, Vigil had the job to herself as a freshman.
“It gives Leah more of an option to be something else, other than just a setter,” Ortiz said. “She’s a very diverse player; she can hit, she can pass, she can do it all.”
Senior Quianna Martinez will be the team’s libero (defensive specialist). While the team may be a bit shorter, senior Franchesca Salazar should be a leader in the front row along with Faith Garcia.
And Gonzales brings the most experience to the team as a senior middle blocker entering her third season on the team. Ortiz said that Gonzales and other players have been playing club volleyball over the summer and improved their skills.
“There’s nowhere to go but up from here,” Ortiz said. “The girls don’t feel any pressure. They’re very confident.”