Position changes at St. Mike’s create more focused squad
Head coach: ‘They are true teammates’
In her first high school head coaching assignment, St. Michael’s Valerie Sandoval has wasted little time in putting her stamp on the program.
“I did move several positions around, so we have new girls stepping into new shoes,” she said. “It seems to be working. They’ve adjusted very well. Nobody has complained about the new positions. They’ve stepped right in there and owned it. They want to continue to improve and succeed.”
Indeed it does seem to be working as the Lady Horsemen are off to a 6-1 start and a No. 4 ranking in the New Mexico Overtime Sports Center coaches poll.
One of the big changes was moving junior setter Miquela Martinez, who has been a varsity member since the eighth grade, from her role as fulltime table setter up to the net when she’s on the front row so she can do some outside hitting, as well.
“It’s been a little challenging, to be quite honest,” she said. “I hadn’t considered myself a hitter until coach asked me to step up the plate. But if it’s working for the team, that’s what’s important.”
And she admits it does seem to be working.
“We’re doing great,” Martinez said. “The team is really gelling well.”
Further, despite the challenges, it’s been a refreshing change.
“I was a little surprised just because I was the only setter last year, but it’s also really exciting,” Martinez said. “I play volleyball all year round and all I do is setting, so it’s nice to have a break from setting and go into the hitting position. You get all the aspects of the game, defense while setting and also being the hitter, as well.”
Sandoval also moved her daughter, senior Alyssa Sandoval, from a limited defensive specialist role into a fulltime libero who doesn’t leave the court.
The previous libero, junior Darian Ortiz, has taken on the role of another setter, which has been a move to solidify the squad.
“She is doing fabulous,” coach Sandoval said. “She’s
a great leader for the offense, beautiful hands, she’s fast and plays great defense. The girls have really taken to her leadership on the court.”
The coach also moved junior Mikayla Bohlman into a middle blocker position to take advantage of her 5-foot-11-inch frame and the result has been a well-rounded, versatile unit entering the Tournament of Champions this weekend at Santa Fe and Capital high schools.
“This summer showed a lot,” Sandoval said. “We went to the (University of New Mexico) team camp right before tryouts and it gave me an opportunity to see things. And when we went home and I really thought about things. I really paid attention to the players during tryouts and, after tryouts, I started to shift positions. They are true teammates and I’m very happy about that.”
A St. Mike’s grad from 1996, Sandoval was an assistant with the Horsemen under both previous head coaches, Chela Butler and Steve Long, and has also been a leading coach on the club level.
One of the big things she’s learned over the years — and stresses for the players — is to not worry about the season as a whole, but to put all the energy into improving and the immediate match coming up.
“We had this conversation this week because somebody asked me about our record,” Sandoval said. “I don’t really know about the record; I’m concerned that we’re improving every single practice, every single match. That we’re getting better and figuring out our mistakes, and that we have hard practices and continue to work as team. If we do that, we’ll be there as a team in the end.”
It’s a message the players have gotten.
“I feel like we’re a lot more focused on the present,” Martinez said. “Last year, I feel like we were always focused on district or leading up to state. Coach has us focused on being in the present and focused at this point right now.”