Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff photo: Kevin Wilson Texico junior outside hitter Jasmine Gannon goes for one of her 20 kills in Saturday’s District 4-3A championship past Eunice middle blocker M’Lee Vinson. Texico defeated Eunice 25-18, 25-9, 25-13 to improve to 20-1 on the season.
Staff photo: Kevin Wilson Texico senior Audrey Wren sets up junior middle blocker Mel Davalos for a kill attempt.
Sports writer
TEXICO — If Texico junior outside hitter Jasmine Gannon was nervous before Saturday’s District 4-3A volleyball tournament final against Eunice, she sure didn’t play like it.
link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson
Texico junior outside hitter Jasmine Gannon goes for one of her 20 kills in Saturday’s District 4-3A championship past Eunice middle blocker M’Lee Vinson. Texico defeated Eunice 25-18, 25-9, 25-13 to improve to 20-1 on the season.
Gannon dominated from the start, compiling 20 kills as the Lady Wolverines made short work of Eunice in a 25-18, 25-11, 25-14 win.
Texico, the defending Class 3A state champion, is seeking its eighth state crown in the last 10 years, including a run of six in a row in then-Class 2A from 2006-11, and should be a solid favorite in next week’s event in Albuquerque. Seedings are to be announced today.
Even though the Lady Wolverines (20-1) recorded their 16th consecutive win, all by sweep, Gannon said she was nervous because she didn’t want to see them let it get away. She gave her teammates plenty of credit for her success.
“I thought we played well as a team, and that makes it easier to make the plays,” Gannon said. “I think if we stay on track like we are now, it’s possible for us to get there (state title).”
The offense is built around the 5-foot-11 Gannon, who banged out seven kills and an ace to go with a block in the first set. Senior outside hitter Brianna Reyna had six kills in the second set after going without one in the first game.
“I thought we played good team volleyball,” eighth-year coach Kristen Scanlan said. “Our passing and defense was excellent tonight, and that drives our offense.”
The Lady Cardinals, who had to forfeit one district match and as a result came into the four-team meet as the No. 3 seed, made a bit of a run in the first set after falling behind 10-3. They closed to 12-9 on a net violation by Texico, but a service error gave the ball back to the Lady Wolverines and they eventually opened an 11-point lead late.
link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson
Texico senior Audrey Wren sets up junior middle blocker Mel Davalos for a kill attempt.
Reyna’s kill started an 8-0 run that put the second set out of reach. Eunice (19-5) grabbed a 4-2 lead early in the third set on an ace by senior Kennede Caperton, but Texico quickly gained control and finished off the match in just under an hour.
Even Scanlan said she was a bit nervous.
“I was nervous because Eunice is good,” she said. “They do a lot of good things. But we controlled the tempo really well, and that was one of our goals.”
Reyna had three of Texico’s six aces in the match. Junior M’lee Vinson posted six kills for Eunice.
