Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Volleyball season starts in Magdalena

Nat Holland El Defensor Chieftain Reporter, nholland@dchieftain.com

Three area volleyball teams made their season debut in Magdalena's tournament on Friday and Saturday.

The Magdalena Lady Steers lost 3-2 to the Socorro Lady Warriors in the first round of the tournament on Friday, then went on to defeat Gateway Christian 3-0 and Mountainair 3-0 on Saturday, to finish at the top of the consolation bracket.

Socorro lost to Cobre 3-1 in the second round and lost 3-1 to Lordsburg in the final match.

The Alamo Lady Cougars were defeated by Lordsburg in the first round and Mountainair in the second round. Alamo found victory in their final match with a 3-1 win against Gateway Christian.

Carrizozo defeated Cobre to win the tournament.

Socorro won their first two games in their match against Magdalena, but then the Steers came back to win the next two. Socorro pushed ahead to win the final game 15-13 and advance in the tournament.

"It's early in the season. The other games we got a little better at everything," Magdalena coach Barbara Gordon said. "That's our goal — to get a little better every day."

Socorro picked up a win in the first game of the matches against both Cobre and Lordsburg, but seemed to lose their edge as the matches pushed on. The Lady Warriors stayed close with their opponents, but gave away key points on mental errors at crucial points in their games.

Magdalena's first game against Gateway Christian went back and forth as the score ratcheted up before they pulled out a 32-30 win. Gateway Christian was unable to answer anything the Lady Steers sent over the net and Magdalena powered through the second match for an easy 25-6 win.

Magdalena's three games against Mountainair were also mostly one-sided affairs as the Lady Steers pieced together combo after combo.

Socorro's Alisha Jaramillo, Alamo's Rachel Sandoval and Magdalena's Nati Montoya and Lexy Pettis were selected for honors on the All-Tournament Team.

Alamo travels to Mountainair to play next this Saturday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m.

Magdalena plays next at Hot Springs High School on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m.

Socorro played Fort Wingate Tuesday. Results were not available at Chieftain press time. The Lady Warriors travel this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29-30 to compete in the Belen Invitational.

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