On Saturday afternoon New Mexico Military Institute improved to 3-1 in conference play with a straight-set victory over Western Texas at the Cahoon Armory Gym. With the win, NMMI remains a perfect 6-0 at home and 15-6 overall. With the loss, Western Texas falls to 0-4 in conference play with a 6-15 overall record.
SET 1
The first set was a slow start for the Broncos as they found themselves down 10-8. However, the Broncos found their momentum as they conducted a controlling 13-3 run to enjoy a 21-11 lead in the first set.
Following a Western Texas College timeout, NMMI secured the first set 25-13 after Drianyeliz Ramos Cora tallied a block to take the opening set.
SET 2
In the middle set, Anniston Lustig made her presence felt as she helped NMMI take a quick 7-3 lead with the help of a trio of kills. The Westerners made it close as they fought their way back to a 10-7 with the help of an NMMI service error.
However, the Broncos controlled the next few points as they made it a 17-11 match as Maria Konwerska denied an attack attempt by Western Texas – forcing a timeout. Up six, NMMI did not let up. The Broncos finished the set off strongly on an 8-2 run with the help of five kills by Leila Ayala to secure the middle set 25-13.
SET 3
The Broncos opened the final set using momentum from the first two sets. Tessa Watson gave NMMI a quick 2-0 advantage as she tallied her lone service ace. The Westerners were able to tie the match at 6-6 but from that point on it was all Broncos.
Leila Ayala earned three of the next six points to put NMMI ahead 13-8, as she tallied three of 14 kills in the afternoon. Xiomara Cobian got in on the action as she tallied a kill to force a Western Texas timeout with a 15-8 lead in the final set. After enjoying a 19-12 lead, Western Texas did not want the match to end.
The visitors battled their way back to a 19-15 game but the Broncos found another gear and sealed the match. Up 24-20, Maria Konwerska smashed a kill over the net to secure the set 25-20 and match for the Institute.
Head Coach Shelby Forchtner on the win, "I thought we started really slow but after the first 10-11 points we really settled into a good rhythm and took control of the match from that point on," Forchtner said. "This was overall a complete game for us, except for the start … consistency has been our biggest issue all year. We need everyone to get on the same page and play together," Forchtner said. "When everyone plays the best version of themselves that is when we're the best as a team and that showed out here today."
UP NEXT
The Broncos return to action on Wednesday, October 1 as they host Amarillo College at 6 p.m. in the Cahoon Armory Gym.