Pojoaque’s home season came to an emotional conclusion as they honored their seniors.
And that may have taken a toll at times on Pojoaque’s play on the court in a key district match.
“I’ve been doing these too many times, and I know it (affects them),” Pojoaque Coach Joe Rodriguez said. “And they say it won’t. But I know it does.”
But they rallied back, and on Pojoaque’s senior night, the Elkettes (12-10, 6-1 in district) took down Española Valley (6-17, 2-6) in four sets on Tuesday. Pojoaque will take on Los Alamos for a shot at a district title, seeking their second straight.
“Just the fact that we know it’s our last home game,” said senior Giselle Muñoz. “We’re leaving behind the place we grew up in. It’s just the connection you grow with people, it just sucks knowing that you’re going to leave them.”
The Elkettes honored their seven seniors before the match, plus junior Alaiyah Vigil, who plays junior varsity and is graduating early this year. They also had large gift baskets that filled an entire laundry basket.
“I got a lot of flowers,” Muñoz said.
Junior Joslyn Nuñez — who was part of the senior ceremonies as Muñoz’s first cousin — played fantastically for the Elkettes, recording 46 assists, an average of 11.5 per set, and four aces. Tessa Martinez led Pojoaque with 16 kills, and Larissa Rodriguez had 15.
In Española’s final match of the season, Faith Garcia had a great match with 16 kills. Mercedes Gonzales had 15 and added five blocks, all in the fourth set.
Pojoaque was a bit slower at times than they would have liked, with the senior night ceremony before the match perhaps making an impact.
But despite the distraction, Pojoaque started strong, winning big in the second half of the first set to win 25-16, but Española battled back in the second set, holding off a late Pojoaque rally to win 25-22 and tie the match.
“They’re a good team,” Joe Rodriguez said. “We can’t let a team like that get energy and get rolling.”
Pojoaque was strong in the third set, building a lead up to 14-7, and finishing to win 25-18
In the fourth set, Gonzales took over early, and forced a timeout with the Sundevils up 7-2. Soon they were down 15-6. But Pojoaque battled back with a strong run; they won four straight points, then another four to get within two. Then, down 19-15, they again won four straight points. Española took two, then the Elkettes pushed another four. Finally, Pojoaque manage to close out the set at 25-22, and take the match in four sets. Pojoaque’s communication picked up, helping them come back.
“We didn’t have any energy,” Martinez said. “But I feel like we brought it back … Just our talks on timeouts, we motivate each other. We all just really want to win.”
Earlier, Pojoaque won the C-team match in three sets, 18-25, 25-22, 15-8, and won in junior varsity with a 15-12 third set.
On Thursday evening, Pojoaque faces Los Alamos (15-7, 7-0) on the road. The Hilltoppers won in four sets in Pojoaque earlier. If the Elkettes win in straight sets, they will clinch a district championship. If the match goes five sets, Los Alamos wins the district, and if Pojoaque wins in four the tiebreaker becomes more complicated.
“A battle,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve always been a fan of away games. It’s just less distractions.”