Lady Buffs storm to crown

RIO RANCHO - Melrose captured its second Class 1A volleyball championship in seven months on Saturday with a 25-13, 25-17, 26-24 victory over Gateway Christian at Rio Rancho Events Center.

Melrose also downed Gateway Christian in the 1A championship match in April during a season delayed and compressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The top-seeded Lady Buffs, who finished this season with a 25-1 record, didn't lose a set during the tournament that also included wins over Logan, Fort Sumner and Pine Hill.

Melrose dominated offensively during much of the match against against the Roswell-based Lady Warriors (24-3), totaling 42 kills to Gateway's 22.

Sophomore Graci Odom led the Lady Buffs with 20 kills, while senior Jayda Brittenum posted 15 kills and seven blocks.

"We really defended well, and that was the difference," Lady Buffs coach Casey Jackson said. "We slowed No. 7 (M.J. Stephens) and No. 5 (Hannah Lilley) down; they can swing. With our blocks, I thought Kambree (Draper) and Jayda did a really good job closing out and leaving them no room to swing. That was a big difference-maker."

Stephens led Gateway with eight kills.

The third-seeded Lady Warriors suffered two of their losses to Melrose, the previous one a four-set decision on Oct. 30.

Jackson acknowledged that previous match against Gateway helped his team keep its poise on Saturday.

"We know each other now, so there wasn't going to be any surprises," he said. "There wasn't a whole lot different that either team was going to be able to do. We just made some minor adjustments. Having seen them at our tournament, it made us more comfortable.

"I just told them to let go and compete, and the outcome will be what it will be. I told them to believe in themselves because that's what they've done all year. We have to believe we'll do it, and it will all come together."

Brittenum said her team took a more aggressive approach the second time against the Lady Warriors.

"The last time we played them, we were down the whole time and had to keep coming back each set," she said. "This time, we jumped on them from the start and kept it up."

Gateway coach Kerri Pirtle said she tried to make adjustments from what she learned from the previous matchup.

"Some of it worked, and some of it didn't," she said. "Overall, not well enough."

Powered by Odom's six kills, Melrose took a double-digit lead in the first set by scoring eight unanswered points. In the second set, the Lady Buffs seized control with an 8-1 run.

The third set was more competitive, with Gateway taking a 19-16 lead at one point. Junior Isabelle Sena kept Melrose close with several kills during the set.

Melrose reversed the momentum with a 6-1 run for a 22-20 advantage.

The Lady Buffs had match point with a 24-23 lead, but Odom's spike was too hard and went out of bounds and she briefly showed exasperation.

She acknowledged she was nervous about the match, but said Jackson helped keep her mentally focused.

"He told me to keep my head up and keep fighting," she said.

Odom rewarded that faith with back-to-back kills to end the match, sparking a dogpile of celebrating players on the floor.

Meantime, the loss hit the Lady Warriors hard.

"If they use this moment in their life to help guide them on whatever path they're going, it's only going to make them stronger," said Pirtle, who paused several times because of emotion. "Life is not just good parts and bad parts separated from each other. It's all mixed in.

"If they use this point to grow and apply it to the rest of their lives ... I hope I'm not just teaching them volleyball. I hope I teach them how to succeed in life. If they come back from what they perceive as a failure and carry on, they've done what they've needed to do and learned from it."

Pirtle said her players had a heavy heart after 51-year-old Gateway assistant athletic director and football offensive coordinator Mick Reeves collapsed and died in the lockerroom at halftime of the 6-man championship football game on Nov. 6. Gateway defeated Ramah 70-28 to win the title.

"This week has been very emotional for these girls," Pirtle said. "I'm so proud they're carrying on what he's instilled in them."