NMJC Volleyball Wins First WJCAC Title
The No. 10 New Mexico Junior College volleyball team locked up the WJCAC title for the first time in school history with a four-set win over Frank Phillips College (25-20, 21-25, 25-13, 27-25).
The Thunderbirds have won a school record 10 straight matches dating back to Sept. 24.
The T-Birds won a competitive first set 25-20, before struggling in the second set and falling 25-21. NMJC came out on fire in the third set taking a 22-5 lead, ultimately beating the Plainsmen 25-13 in the decisive set.
NMJC had to mount a rally in the fourth set in order to claim their first WJCAC title. The T-Birds fought off two set points, 23-24 and 24-25, to win the match 27-25 on a block from setter Lacie Schooley.
Outside hitter Iva Popovic was unstoppable Wednesday night leading the T-Birds with a match-high 21 kills and 25 digs. The Thunderbird freshman is third in the country in kills with 473 on the year.
The ever-steady outside hitter Maggie Machado finished the night with 13 kills and 21 digs. Outside hitter Gaby Arias rounded out the T-Birds three-headed monsters with 12 kills.
Setter Lacie Schooley recorded 37 assists, 20 digs, and three blocks in the four-set win. She now has 1013 assists on the season and 2021 assists throughout her Thunderbird career.
Libero Milena Cernjanski registered 27 digs in the win over the Plainsmen.
Head coach Holli Reyna was elated with her team's performance as she recapped the victory with NMJC play-by-play man Dusty Windham.
"Our team pulled it out tonight, I am very proud of them. I can't say enough good things about them," Reyna said. "It was a collected effort tonight. I think it takes a lot to not get shaken by a team like Frank Phillips because man they don't let anything fall."
Reyna has accomplished so much in year one as head coach for the Thunderbirds including the longest winning streak in T-Bird volleyball history, the most wins in program history, and the team's first ever conference title in the WJCAC.
"Winning the WJCAC exemplifies the amount of grit within this team," Reyna said. "They don't give up. They continually find ways to set the bar higher and higher for this program and I am honored and humbled to be their coach. I am beyond proud."
The Thunderbirds will finish the regular season at home against Amarillo College at 2 p.m. NMJC will host Sophomore Day recognition 15 minutes prior to the start of the match.
