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Lady Horsemen edge Hilltoppers in four sets, Prep wins in five tight sets over the Bobcats, and in girl’s soccer, Santa Fe Indian School blanks Monte del Sol, 3-0
By Arnie Leshin
Nothing like winning the season-opener.
And that the way it went in non-district volleyball victories for St. Michael’s and Santa Fe PrepTuesday night. And in girl’s soccer, it was Santa Fe Indian School turning away Monte del Sol, 3-0.
In her second season as Lady Horsemen head, Valerie Sandoval returned eight seniors and they responded in leading a 3-1 win over visiting Los Alamos, with the Hilltoppers taking the third set, 25-22, and losing the other three, 25-12, 25-15, 25-14.
It was the second start for Los Alamos after sweeping Bloomfield Saturday in its opener. For St. Michael’s. it was an impressive start for Sandoval.
“We hung in there,” she said, “after losing set three, and after they came within two games in the next set, we too advantage of their serving violation
to gain back the momentum.”
In set one, the Lady Horsemen quickly took an 8-0 lead that increased to 12-3. Except for set three, they didn’t let up.
“We have more experience this time,” said Sandoval, “make less mistakes
and get even better as the season progresses. Los Alamos is a formable opponent and a good opener for us.”
Along with the seniors in the lineup, Sandoval found praise for junior Molly Maestas, said she played really great, something to be proud of.
St. Michael’s plays next in the Moriarty Invitational, Sept. 7 and 8, and after a match at Albuquerque St. Pius X, comes the Tournament of Champions played at Santa Fe High and Capital.
Then there was Santa Fe Prep under head coach Kiran Bhatka. It edged visiting Albuquerque Bosque School, 3-2, taking the deciding set, 15-10. It was close throughout, the Griffins taking the first set, 25-15, losing the next set. 25-21, then coming back to win 25-18.
The fourth set could have gone either way, but the Bobcats brought a fifth set with an up-and-back 30-28 triumph.
Bhatka said that sophomore Raelyn Gonzales served well, including the final set when she led a 12-4 run. Gonzales also came away with 22 kills and senior Daisy Cunningham added 15, and her sophomore sister, India, assisted 38 times.
“It was a tough match against a good team,” Bhatka said, “and I can say it was truly a team effort.”
In girl’s soccer, Indian School also began in fine form by defeating a young Monte del Sol at home, 3-0, and coached for the first time by former Dragon athlete Jennifer Gutierrez.
“For us,” she said, “it was a far better result than the two 10-0 losses to Socorro and Grants at the Socorro Cup on Saturday. We are a young team made up of mostly eighth-graders.”
While this was the third match for Monte del Sol, it was the opener for the Marc Newton-coached Braves. The Dragons play next on Saturday afternoon in a rematch against visiting Indian School.
