Seniors rallied team to secure title

When Elida senior Shealton Veo-Chenault arose for championship day at the state volleyball tournament last weekend, she and her teammates were brimming with optimism about what might come later.

Kevin Wilson: CMI photo

Elida players celebrate following championship point over Carrizozo in last Saturday's Class B title match at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

Heading over to the lobby of the MCM Elegante in Albuquerque, where the team was staying, Veo-Chenault had a nice big omelet prepared for breakfast. Omelet on plate, plate in hand, she headed over to a table to eat.

That's when a fire alarm went off and the entire hotel was evacuated.

"I sat it down, had that whole sad face on," she recalled.

It wasn't a temporary drill though, according to Darrell Chenault — the Tigers' volleyball coach.

Kevin Wilson: CMI photo

Elida sophomore Kayla Summers, right, embraces senior teammate Haley Powell following the Tigers' four-set win over Carrizozo to claim their third-straight Class B title last Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

"It's usually just a prank," the coach said. "There was a lot of smoke, it was coming from the bottom floor."

Both teams that were scheduled to play at 9:00 a.m. for the Class B state championship, Elida and Carrizozo, headed out to the parking lot and eventually the team buses. The wait stretched out long enough to where a return to breakfast was impossible — if the match were to start anywhere near on time.

So there on the table, Shealton's omelet sat.

"The omelet was more on my mind than the game," said Veo-Chenault, the team's setter. "Maybe that's why we got off to such a bad start."

Elida, the two-time defending champs, lost the first game to Carrizozo 25-21.

CMI photo: Kevin Wilson

Elida volleyball coach Darrell Chenault celebrates with junior Kaylen Jasso following the Tigers' four-set win over Carrizozo to claim their third-straight Class B title last Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

Darrell Chenault, at that point, said his three seniors — his step-daughter, Reda Allison and Haley Powell — took charge.

"I was very nervous," Allison said. "I could see on some of (the younger players) faces that there was surprise. We told them we knew Carrizozo was going to be tough, but we were tougher."

The Tigers went on to win the next three games 25-18, 25-21, 25-17 to secure their third straight volleyball championship. Since the formation of Class B in 2010, Elida's girls have won every volleyball and basketball title available.

"Oh I'm sure something's going to slip at some point," said Chenault, noting that no streak lasts forever. "We've got a great community that backs us all the way. It's special — we don't take anything for granted."

"This year, there was a lot more pressure," Veo-Chenault said. "The first year, nobody had anything to lose. Last year, we had a little more pressure as the defending champ. This year, tons of pressure — especially for me as a senior. Having that as our goal the entire year and accomplishing it, I'm very proud of it."

And all's well that ends well.

While, for all she knows, that championship day omelet might have sat on that table for hours, Veo-Chenault and her teammates were amply rewarded after hoisting the first-place blue trophy.

"We went to Outback and had steak, lobster and cheesecake," Veo-Chenault said. "It was awesome."