On Wednesday evening, the University of Nebraska hosted a volleyball match against Omaha at the school’s football stadium.
In attendance were 92,003 fans, breaking a record for attendance at a women’s sports event.
The event inspired female athletes around the country, showing that there was an audience for their sports, including the Pojoaque Valley volleyball team.
“It was really cool,” said Pojoaque senior Giselle Muñoz. “Seeing how they play, it inspires, it makes me want to go to college and play for big leagues.”
“Volleyball’s huge,” said Pojoaque coach Joe Rodriguez, who said he did not see the match live but watched highlights.
Perhaps inspired by that match, Pojoaque started the season with a three-set sweep over Robertson at home on Thursday, 25-22, 25-21, 25-18. Against a team that made the 3A title game in 2022, early-game jitters aside, Pojoaque looked like they had barely missed a beat after losing five seniors — the vast majority of their production.
“A lot of nerves, and they pulled together towards the end there,” Rodriguez said. “Some things we’ve got to fix.”
Nuñez said they had seen Robertson in summer tournaments and scrimmages, and they knew what to expect.
Muñoz led the Elkettes with 12 kills and three blocks in the first match of the season. She was a role player last season, but now is a team leader in the front row. And in her first match in that role, she dominated. And she accomplished the feat while battling illness throughout the week.
“I’ve been sick all week,” she said. “But I knew that I could get through the game. It’s my senior year and I want to have fun with my team.”
Joslyn Nuñez registered 25 assists, Tessa Martinez had four blocks, and Larissa Rodriguez added nine kills.
“I expect three or four girls every night to be like (Muñoz was),” Joe Rodriguez said. “The ones that have been waiting for their time, they stepped up today.”
In the first set, Pojoaque took an early lead at 12-6, but Robertson stormed back, and was up 22-21. But the Elkettes won four straight points to take the set. They continued that run winning the first four points in the second set. Then, from 15-15, it was a big service run from Emma Kitchens that led to six straight points, putting the Elkettes over the edge to win 25-21.
A couple of big runs in the third set put Pojoaque up 15-9 (they were tied before winning six straight points) and they went up as much as 22-13 before taking home the win on their home court.
In attendance for Pojoaque was a rowdy student section that cheered every point throughout the night. They hosted “Western Night” and the players had their own cowboy hats. The students read newspapers while the Robertson lineup was announced. That made a journalist smile.
“I think they’re great,” Muñoz said. “It’s like a great motivation for us to try and win. We’re doing it for our school, and our students are here to watch us win.”
Pojoaque’s junior varsity and freshman teams both lost in straight sets.
Next for the Elkettes is a week off before heading to the Moriarty Tournament, their first of four weekend tournaments in September.
“Just get them rested up for next week for Moriarty,” Joe Rodriguez said.