Elida completes trifecta

RIO RANCHO — Throughout Saturday's Class B state title match, Elida senior Shealton Veo-Chenault continually implored her teammates to "Make an impression."

CMI photo: Kevin WilsonElida junior Kaylen Jasso holds three fingers in the air to symbolize the Tigers' third-straight Class B championship, won in four sets over Carrizozo Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho. Jasso had 20 kills in the victory.

The Carrizozo Lady Grizzlies took her advice to heart, but didn't make nearly enough of an impression to stop the Lady Tigers' roll to their third consecutive Class B title. Elida won 21-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-17 at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Junior Kaylen Jasso had 20 kills for Elida (23-3), which continued its stranglehold on Class B and claimed its fifth title in school history — the Tigers also took wins in 1990 and 1986 while competing as a Class 1A school.

CMI photo: Kevin WilsonElida senior Shealton Veo-Chenault, left, and sophomore Kayla Summers hold up three fingers to mark their third consecutive Class B championship as Veo-Chenault holds the trophy following the Class B championship Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

"It's rewarding, very rewarding," said Veo-Chenault, who posted 44 assists in the victory. "We started out as a very young team. We feel very deserving, but in a humble way."

Elida swept the Lady Grizzlies (21-4)for last season's championship, but got an early message that it would not come as easy this time around with junior Sarah Ferguson a year more developed as a hitter. She had six of her 16 kills in the first game, a back-and-forth affair until Carrizozo took control with three straight kills from senior Victoria Ventura.

CMI photo: Kevin WilsonElida coach Darrell Chenault talks to his squad during a timeout about hitting in the first set of the Class B championship Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

Elida, unchallenged through the early rounds at state, rallied with its youth. Jasso was joined by freshman Lauren Stone on the front line, and sophomore Marily Varela helped on offense with 11 kills — many coming with Jasso on the bench.

"Usually we have her and Kayla (Summers) swap in and out," Elida coach Darrell Chenault said of Stone, who had nine blocks to aid Jasso at the net. "But when we won the second game, as the adage goes, you keep riding the horse you have."

CMI staff: Kevin WilsonElida defenders Marily Varela, left, and Kayla Summers set up to defend the kill attempt from Carrrizozo's Andrea Vigil during the first set of Saturday's Class B state volleyball championship Saturday at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

Stone had a pair of blocks to start what ended up being the match's pivotal moment, an 8-2 Elida run that turned the third game from a 19-14 deficit into a 22-21 lead.

Without that run, Carrizozo coach Pam Allen felt confident her charges would have won that set and gone on to win the match, even if it went five games.

"It just bleeds the stuff out of you when you play as hard as you can and can't catch a break," Allen said. "It's hard to overcome that kind of stuff."

Varela helped Elida finish off the comeback with a block and two consecutive kills, and the Lady Tigers merely needed to hold on after jumping out to a 9-1 lead in the fourth set.

"We didn't want the state championship to be easy," Veo-Chenault said. "We knew it wouldn't be, but I think everybody underestimates Class B. We're glad both teams made a statement for our class."

CMI photo: Kevin WilsonElida senior libero Hailey Powell makes a play on a serve during the second set of Saturday's Class B state volleyball championship at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

Fellow senior and team captain Reda Allison said the Lady Tigers owe a great deal of their success to simply playing in southeastern New Mexico, which holds the balance of power in small-school volleyball between Elida, Texico in Class 2A and Fort Sumner and Tatum in 1A. Those four teams have accounted for 13 of the 14 state trophies in the three classes since 2006.

"When we play Fort Sumner and Tatum, it helps us tremendously," Allison said.

Chenault admitted Elida is toughest to beat when it can run the power game with Jasso, but her teammates give the Lady Tigers other ways to win.

"When Kaylen came out, Reda came up," Chenault said. "We change a little because we don't have the big hitter. But they play smart, and they place the ball well."

Allen credited her team with " a courageous effort," and believes the Lady Grizzlies will be well-equipped to compete with Elida next season after losing just two players to graduation.

But it won't be easy.

"They have a fantastic tradition over there," Allen said. "Coach Chenault is a gentleman. He's a good family man. He does a great job with the kids and his daughter, the setter, is as tough as they come."

While the three seniors Elida loses aren't the big hitters, Veo-Chenault, libero Haley Powell and Allison brought plenty to the table during the three-peat.

"It's humongous leadership," Chenault said. "We're going to have to find a setter. We have tons of talent coming up, but we'll be a little different."