Sandia, Bears for 5A title
Los Lunas will play in the 4A state final
RIO RANCHO — Sandia’s hopes of repeating as a state volleyball champion will have to go through unbeaten La Cueva.
The Matadors and Bears earned trips to the Class 5A state championship after both earned semifinal victories Friday night at the Santa Ana Star Center.
Led by Cali Hobart’s 14 kills, No. 2 seed Sandia (19-2) swept three games from Las Cruces, 25-20, 25-21, 25-22. No. 1 seed La Cueva was extended to four sets by Volcano Vista before prevailing 25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19. The Bears earlier in the day needed five sets to defeat Centennial in the quarterfinals.
“We wanted to shut them down, get it done in three games, and get to (today),” said Sandia senior Patia Storey, who was well aware of the challenge La Cueva presents. “It’s about our mindset. We have to win the mental game before we can win the physical game.”
La Cueva (21-0) found itself on the ropes in the third set against the Hawks. Tied at one set apiece, Volcano Vista rallied from a fivepoint deficit to tie the set at 23-23. The Bears regrouped to finish off the set, and never trailed in the final set.
“I’m excited to play Sandia again,” said La Cueva senior Brie Mortensen, who played in last year’s state semifinal loss to the Matadors. “We just can’t let any of our mistakes get the best of us.”
La Cueva and Sandia square off at 6 tonight at the Star Center.
CLASS 4A: Goddard used its superior size up front as the Rockets eliminated No. 2 seed Hope Christian in four sets, 27-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, in the semifinals.
The Huskies (20-4) were coming off a big victory earlier in the day against top-seeded St. Pius, but needed a big rally in the third set just to extend the match against the Rockets.
Late in the fourth set, Hope Christian trimmed a 16-11 deficit to 21-20, but a service error from the Huskies sent the serve back to Goddard (15-8), which then closed the match out.
“Our biggest opponent was St. Pius, and we were able to beat them earlier in the day,” said Hope Christian assistant coach Sara Branch, who was serving as the stand-in coach for the state tournament. “But state (doesn’t) finish in the quarterfinals. We have a very young team, and they learned a very hard lesson very quickly.”
Los Lunas outlasted Pojoaque Valley in five sets in the quarterfinals in the afternoon, then swept Santa Teresa, 25-22, 25-9, 25-15 in Friday night’s semis to move into the final. The Tigers (17-9) were last year’s 5A state champs.
Los Lunas and Goddard meet at 4 p.m. today at the Star Center.
CLASS 3A: Despite losing most of its starting lineup from last year’s championship team, No. 3 seed Sandia Prep will play four a fourth straight state title after sweeping Hatch Valley in the semis, 25-16, 25-9, 25-21.
The Sundevils’ Cat Mullins had four of her nine kills in the opening set.
“This is a brand-new group, and I think a lot of people underestimated us,” said Sandia Prep coach Audra Gentry. “We had to work really, really hard to get back here.”
Sandia Prep (20-4) is riding a 16-game winning streak, and will meet St. Michael’s today at noon.
St. Michael’s topped Robertson in the other semi, 25-22, 25-20, 25-21.
CLASS 2A: No. 2 seed Texico beat Pecos in four sets, 20-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-17, to move into the 2A final. The Lady Wolverines will clash with first-time state finalist and fifth-seeded Dulce, which advanced with an 8-25, 26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 18-16 victory over Mesilla Valley. The final is at 2 p.m.
CLASS 1A: Today’s 10 a.m. final will pit last year’s 1A and 2A state champions as No. 2 seed Melrose and top-seeded Logan advanced. Melrose downed Elida in four sets in a rematch of last year’s 1A state championship, while Logan swept Tatum.