Santa Fe High volleyball takes to the road to win five-setter against Clovis in District 2-6A

St. Michael’s wins in four sets against visiting Pojoaque Valley in District 2-4A. Demonettes bounce back after dropping the opening set and Lady Horsemen close with a whooping fourth set 

By ARNIE LESHIN, Santa Fe Today

Any win for Santa Fe High in District 2-6A is special, and Tuesday night it was the Demonettes’ volleyball team doing so in a five-set match at Clovis.

After the long ride, Santa Fe High did not start out well and dropped the first set 25-20.

“I tried to stay calm,” said head coach Sam Estrada, because we didn’t play anywhere near to our level.”

But the Demonettes responded by taking the next two sets, 25-21 and 25-18. In set four, the Wildcats tied things with a 25-22 win, but back came Santa Fe High by claiming the deciding set, 15-10, and Estrada was pleased to head home with his team’s first success in three district starts.

It was the way his team swung at the ball that caught his attention.

“It was good to see them finish with a hard driven spike rather than a tipped ball of an off-speed one to put them away,” he said.

The way the Demonettes played in set five was far better than the way they fell behind 12-4 and 20-11 in the opener. But in the deciding set, they jumped out to an 11-4 lead and then held off the home side when it closed to within 11-8.

Junior Ciara Morgan turned in six aces and sophomore Salome Romp five. Romp and senior Adonica Baca-Martinez combined for 52 kills, with Romp showing the way with a team-high 27.

At St. Michael’s, the Lady Horsemen turned back Pojoaque Valley in four sets, 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-9. It put 4A fourth-ranked St. Michael’s at 11-4 overall and 2-1 in district.

The Elkettes are now 4-7 overall and 1-1 in district. They had a chance to force a fifth set, but the Lady Horsemen put forth their best effort in set four.