Sandia Prep continues its impressive run

The Sandia Prep volleyball team is something of a paradox. On paper, anyway.

Look at the 2016 roster, and you won’t find a senior anywhere. Yet, the Sundevils are stacked with veterans.

And, they’re having fun this season knocking off defending state champions.

They opened the year beating La Cueva. On Saturday afternoon, in the title match of the Sandia Prep tournament, the Sundevils whipped the defending 5A state champ, Los Lunas, in three brisk sets.

The scores were 25-17, 25-19, 25-15 as Sandia Prep improved to 11-1, with only a four-set loss to St. Pius marring this season.

“What’s great about our team is we play as a unit. They live and die for each other,” Sundevils coach Audra Gentry said.

Junior outside hitters Catherine Kelly (15 kills) and Camryn Nelson (13), teammates since eighth grade, led the swinging at net.

“I love my hitters,” junior setter Mirabelle Kinberger said after a 29-assist effort. “They’re amazing. They’ll put it down every time.”

Sandia Prep, the 2015 4A champ, had a terrific serving day, and as usual, the Sundevil defense was close to airtight as they transitioned from dig to offense and kept the Tigers (10-2) befuddled for most of the 75-minute match.

Los Lunas had one burst where there was a brief opening to get back into the match, early in the third set. The Tigers rattled off five points in a row to lead 10-9.

But Sandia Prep 10 scored of the next 11 points, and soon closed out the match.

Kelly, despite her modest 5-foot-8 frame, is one of New Mexico’s most skilled and adept hitters. Her kill clinched the first set.

Kelly went to work on the Tigers in the middle set, with half a dozen kills, plus two aces and a block. Kelly was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

“The thing with Cat is she is so incredibly smart,” Gentry said. “Her court vision? You can’t teach that. And she’s got it in spades.”

The challenge for Sandia Prep in October will be to stay sharp against a group of district opponents that are not expected to offer much of a challenge. The tougher half of their regular season is over.

“We’re just gonna have to keep playing at our level,” Kelly said. “And execute.”

UPCOMING: Among the matches to watch next week is Friday night’s showdown between La Cueva (6-1) and St. Pius on the West Side. The Sartans (8-1) on Saturday handed Piedra Vista its first loss with a three-game sweep in Farmington.