Elida back in Class B title match, CCS falls short

RIO RANCHO — The only volleyball champion New Mexico's Class B has ever known is going for a threepeat Saturday morning.

And the Elida Tigers will have some familiar company.

CMI staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Elida juniors Hunter Haley, left, and Kaylen Jasso, high-five following a kill by Jasso in the second set of Friday night's Class B semifinal at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho. Elida swept Corona to reach its third consecutive Class B title game.

Carrizozo and Elida, last year's Class B volleyball finalists, set up a title rematch Friday after breezing through their quarterfinals Friday morning at Sue V. Cleveland High School and doing the same later in evening in the semifnals at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Elida (22-2) took out Des Moines and Corona in three sets each, despite some late trouble closing out the Cardinals 25-16, 25-12, 25-19.

"In the last game, we got complacent and I got a little grouchy about it on the bench," Elida coach Darrell Chenault said. "But (the Star Center, site of their previous Class B volleyball titles) feels like home to them. They placed the ball well and got the job done."

Carrizozo (21-3), meanwhile, pulled sweeps of Gateway Christian and Clovis Christian.

Clovis Christian coach Pamela Sealey felt the Eagles had their best season in her five years at coach, finishing 18-6, and played well in the state tournament. But the Grizzlies provided too big an obstacle.

"We played them last year in pool play, split with them," Sealey said. "They're a good team."

Senior Kaitlyn Cook provided nine kills for the Eagles, following a 20-kill effort in the squad's 3-1 victory over Quemado.

CMI staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Clovis Christian senior Katlyn Cook rises up to block a kill attempt from Carrizozo senior Andrea Vigil in the second set of the Class B volleyball state semifinal Friday night at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho. Cook had nine kills in the three-set defeat.

"I think their big girl (Cook) is a solid player," Carrizozo coach Pam Allen said. "She's smart, she doesn't do the same thing over and over and over. She changes her shots, and places it pretty well.

"Any time you make it to the semifinals (like Clovis Christian), it's a successful season. Everybody who played tonight, whatever the class, had a successful season."

But 9 a.m. Saturday decides who had the most successful season. Chenault figures both teams will be up for the task.

"We had the semifinals (in 2010) and the title game last year, and we got them in the Capitan Tournament. We've felt all year like we're the two best teams in the state, and we get to play. It's going to be good."