While most volleyball teams were still scrimmaging, the McCurdy School Bobcats ran their season record to 2-0 with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Santa Fe Prep Aug. 23 at home.
After easily defeating Monte del Sol 3-0 in a season opener Aug. 21, the Bobcats dropped their first game against Prep 21-25. They came back to win the next two games 25-20 and 25-15. Prep forced a decisive fifth game with a 25-21 victory.
“We must have missed eight serves in that fourth game,” McCurdy coach Steve Long said.
The Bobcats prevailed 15-13 in the fifth game.
“I give the girls a lot of credit for coming back,” Long said. “They played with hustle.”
Pojoaque hosted a volleyball scrimmage Aug. 23 and finished its day by polishing off Española Valley High School 25-6, 25-13.
“We saw some things we need to work on and saw some of the competition we’re going to face,” Pojoaque coach Brian Ainsworth said.
The Elkettes open their season Thursday (8/28) at home against Capital, and they’ll host Los Alamos Saturday. Ainsworth said he expects Los Alamos to be tough.
“They are big and hit the ball hard,” he said.
Despite losing to Pojoaque, Española coach Gary Maskally was smiling at the day’s end.
“It was good to see the girls in a competitive environment,” Maskally said. “We lost confidence in our passing and that’s a really big thing with a young team. With game maturity, our mental toughness is going to come.”
SUN Staff Report
The Dulce Hawks brought home the first District 1AA championship in school history last season, and despite the graduation of key receiver Ryan Panzy and the transfer of starting quarterback Antoine Salazar, the Hawks have the potential to successfully defend their district championship.
“We’re going to be in the hunt,” Dulce coach Ron Graham said.
Graham is beginning his seventh season as head coach.
Dulce now competes in the largest football district in the state, regardless of class. Cuba and Ramah joined District 1AA this season, giving it a total of seven teams. Laguna, Navajo Prep, Navajo Pine and Newcomb complete the lineup.
“We’ll get after it and see if the cream rises to the top,” Graham said.
Graham said he expects to have about 25 players, and he’ll be 11 to 12 deep with experienced players.
“I’ve got about eight to 10 seniors who are all leaders,” Graham said.
Senior Andrew Gonzales is a key returning player at fullback and middle linebacker.
“He weighs 220 pounds and runs like he weighs 150,” Graham said. “He anchors the middle on defense.”
Senior Jared Pesata offers a big target at 6 feet, 2 inches, but he’ll be playing slotback in Graham’s shotgun-formation double-slot offense.
Bo Martinez and James Panzy will split time at quarterback. Panzy will be looking for his mirror image, identical twin Bryan, at wide receiver.
“I have the darnedest time telling them apart,” Graham said. “They’re always playing tricks on me.”
Darryl Miller will be the other slotback.
“He’s very fast and he’s dedicated to football,” Graham said.
Jordan Sandoval anchors the line at center and Graham said he’s looking to his seniors to help the whole line gel around him. “I need to get the line to gel around him and block for the backs,” Graham said.
Dulce opens its season Friday by hosting Clayton, who beat the Hawks in their 2007 season opener.