Lady Spikers finally handle Estancia

Jesse Wolfersberger: CNJ staff writer

After four straight losses, Texico finally beat Estancia

The Lady Spikers traveled to Estancia on Thursday and beat the top-ranked Bears in four games in front of a hostile crowd.

“They were screaming and yelling,” Texico coach Mike Littlejohn said. “You could barely hear in their gym. It was a lot of fun.”

Texico is ranked second in Class 2A.

“They had a bull’s-eye on their back, and normally we have one on our back,” Littlejohn said. “It was nice for us to be the hunter instead of the hunted.

“It was like payday. You work so hard, and that match was like getting paid.”

Littlejohn said his team was not perfect, but did not get down on themselves when they made mistakes.

“On a scale of one to 10,” he said. “We were somewhere between an eight and an eight and a half. Our serving wasn’t very good, but we made up for it.”

Stephanie Bailey had 11 kills and four aces for Texico and Bryn Mayfield added 28 assists and two blocks.

The Lady Spikers (12-4, 3-0 district 6-2A) have another tough road game tonight against unbeaten Tatum.

Fort Sumner is 12-6 overall and 4-1 in District 3-1A, but coach Lisa McMath said they should be playing better.

“I think they are more talented than they give themselves credit for,” she said. “We’ll start playing well and win a game, then start the next game 0-6. I think part of it is that they think it should be a struggle.”

The Vixen needed five games to win each of their past two matches.

“It is hard for me, as a coach,” McMath said. “But I’m sure it’s good for us in the long run.”

Fort Sumner continues district play tonight at Dora.

Clovis Christian beat Logan for the first time in school history on Tuesday.

“We’ve always been the little team playing against giants,” Clovis Christian coach Ceil Boatman said. “Games like this let (the team) know that we can play with them.”

The Eagles (12-5, 5-2 district 4-1A) are making last year’s three-win season a distant memory.

“We just set the tone,” Boatman said. “Anytime you can do that you are in good shape. We played a well rounded game, it was fun to watch.”

Senior Sam Barnett lead the Eagles with 13 kills, Mollie Peterson had 41 assists, and Tasha Daale had nine digs, nine blocks and eight kills.

“They played steady and consistent,” Boatman said. “They didn’t let the little things get them down.”

Clovis Christian continues district play tonight at San Jon.