Throughout the year, Pojoaque volleyball has fought through injuries.
Setter Joslyn Nuñez missed time, and middle Giselle Muñoz missed the Española match with a concussion (her coach was jokingly telling her to “study” for the upcoming concussion test; she claimed she didn’t have to).
In their places, senior team captain Denaya Sandia stepped up. She played setter for the first time in her life for a chunk of the season. And then she also started playing the front row, recording seven kills in a most recent match.
“They’ve been adapting very well,” Pojoaque Coach Joe Rodriguez said. “Hats off to (Sandia). She’s a team player. That’s why she’s a captain, she’ll do anything for the team.”
The Española Sundevils (5-13, 1-2 in district) fought hard into five sets against Pojoaque (9-9, 3-0) but ultimately lost at home on Thursday. Over the past two seasons, all of the matchups had been Pojoaque sweeps. The Elkettes stay on a five-match win streak, and perfect in district play setting up a first-place matchup with Los Alamos.
“This win really brought a lot of confidence to us,” Sandia said. “We had a lot of fun in those last couple points. We’ve been working really hard on our serves and I think that showed.”
Despite the loss, Española’s Mercedes Gonzales was brilliant, recording 27 kills and three blocks. Leah Vigil had five aces and 28 assists.
“I’m so happy for her,” Española Coach Nicole Ortiz (formerly Romero) said of Gonzales. “I’ve put a lot of pressure on her, as far as being a big hitter. I think it’s showing through for her.”
Two days earlier, the Sundevils took down Moriarty (4-14, 0-3) in four sets, significant as the Sundevils had gone the previous two seasons without a district victory.
“It was huge,” Ortiz said. “They set that goal. It got them motivated to compete. If we hadn’t beaten Moriarty, I don’t think we would have competed with Pojoaque tonight.”
Against Española, Nuñez led the way with 33 assists along with four aces. Larissa Rodriguez had 14 kills, and Tessa Martinez had nine kills and four blocks.
Pojoaque scored the first seven points of the match, forcing a Sundevil timeout before they had recorded a point. From there, they led the whole way, and closed out a 25-16 first-set win. But the Sundevils fought back in the second set. While they trailed early, they took a lead at 15-13. Pojoaque was down 18-17, then scored three straight points, then four more to go up 24-21. But the Sundevils came back with four of their own, then won the set 27-25.
The Elkettes dominated the third set, going up 6-3 before scoring eight straight points, and winning the set 25-17. But again, the Sundevils came back, fighting through a hard fourth set. Close the whole way, the Sundevils won two points from down 23-22, then won the set 26-24.
But in the third set, Pojoaque found a way to stay ahead. They were up 7-4 when Tiana Martinez headed to the service line, and won them eight more points to finish the tiebreaking set and escape with a win.
“We brought up our energy,” Sandia said of the final run. “Once our energy’s up, and we get going,”
“Once we’re loud, we’re good,” said libero Danica Dauz,who finished with seven aces.
Ortiz said a lack of experience in close matches compared to Pojoaque was the difference in the end.
The Sundevils next play on Oct. 25 against Sandia Prep (8-7) in a non-district game, and host Los Alamos (10-6, 3-0) the next day. Two matches between the Hilltoppers and Elkettes, the first coming Oct. 24, will likely determine the district 2-4A champion.
“Going forward, we’re just going for it,” Sandia said. “Every team is different, and we’re learning from it. We’re watching film, doing things differently, reflecting on what we can do differently, what we can do better. And just taking it one game at a time.”