Volleyball: Disciplined and Devasting Elkettes Down Lady Cardinals
Leaving Ben Lujan Gym Saturday night, a Pojoaque fan said, “This was like watching a state championship volleyball game.” And that’s exactly what it felt like in the crowded, rowdy gym.
Pojoaque( 15-1, 6-0) remained perfect in District 2AAA with a dramatic 25-13, 25-20, 21-25, 26-24 victory, while Robertson dropped to 8-5, 4-2.
The game was dramatic because in Game 4, a game that was knotted five times, with the final tie coming at 24-24, chaos reigned.
At 24-24, Robertson won the next point to go up 25-24. But Pojoaque head coach Brian Ainsworth protested. He pointed out to the officials that Robertson had made an illegal substitution.
Robertson’s libero, Brianna Bourbon, came on the court, left the court and came back on. The officials ruled a violation and a delay of game. The score changed with the decision and instead of trailing by one-point, Pojoaque went up by one, won the next point and the match.
As the Pojoaque fan said, it was a battle of champions.
Pojoaque exhibited maybe the state’s best defense-led by Miquella Lovato’s 29 digs- as they consistently dug out the blasts from Robertson’s big hitters, especially the six-foot Jazmine Harge. Harge had nine of her team high 19 kills in Game 3.
The Pojoaque hitters, led by Kira Trujillo’s 23 kills, showed more finesse than the Lady Cardinal’s big guns. At times relying on power, at times on placement, the points came from inside and out. Dionna Montoya banged 13 kills, Liz Gomez 11 and Lindsay Longacre 7.
Pojoaque and Robertson will most likely play again in the district tournament and quite possibly in the state tournament.
Last year, the Elkettes defeated the Lady Cardinals three times before losing to them at state. This year, the Elkettes are even more athletic than last year and Ainsworth has transferred his eye of the tiger look to the Elkettes.
Pojoaque and Robertson might be the two best teams in the state. Two awesome teams, one awesome match. Like the Pojoaque fan said, “This is about as good as it gets.”
