Teams work to build team chemistry

New Mexico volleyball teams are dealing with new classes, districts and coaches.

In Class 3A, the Shiprock Chieftains were the team to beat last season and made a state tournament appearance.

First-year head coach David Scott said he's got a lot to work with.

"I like what I see," he said. "We're not tall but our defense has got be key - serving, communication, playing smart ball.

"We have to find a chemistry," he said. "Everybody coming out from JV building strong relationships with the three seniors. I think it's working out fine. The kids are coming around."

Returning seniors are Lisa Atcitty, April Smith and Laria Hatch.

Wingate

Wingate on the other hand has very little work with, having lost eight seniors and with only five returnees.

"We're rebuilding," Wingate head coach Melody West said. "I primarily have underclassmen. It's been an adjustment."

So far 11 have suited up as the varsity team but West said that could change.

"I don't have a full team yet," she said. "I'm still trying to adjust. How it's going to look I'm not certain. I'm still piecing things together.

"We're being really realistic this year," she said. "Last year we were district runner-up. Almost certain we were going to get in (to state). This year we're saying we're just going to be real and play every game we need to play if we want to win. It looks good for us."

Tohatchi

Tohatchi is also looking at a run for a spot in the state tournament. With new head coach Edwin Brown it just might be possible.

"Hard habits are hard to break," he said. "We trained these girls in a different manner - more agility work, hard work, more conditioning work.

"The way that these girls are being conditioned, their hard physical work, that's what they need, what they wanted," he said.

Nine players return from last year and Brown said he hopes to have the girls at a good place come late September.

"Our goal is to play at the Santa Ana Star Center November 13 at 6 p.m.," he said. "The girls know it. That's the very last game we're going to play."

Zuni

Zuni first-year high school head coach Talana Duncan has five returnees and knows they can take the team all the way.

"I coached this bunch of girls when I coached in mid school," Duncan said. "I know their skill level and I know they can do it."

Key players are Leslie Waseta, Ashley Gasper and Tahlia Natachu.

To compete in the district Duncan said her team still has a lot to work on but she's confident in their work ethic.

"We're going to have to be strong on defense," she said. "Some of the teams we saw are good hitters, so we're going to be working on staying low, defense, quick feet.

"We want to go all the way," she said. "We made some improvements, we're looking to be strong, we're just taking it day by day right now."

District 1-2A

In Class 2A the competition heats up, specifically in District 1-2A as Navajo Pine, Navajo Prep, Newcomb and Rehoboth are all looking to earn the district title.

The Navajo Pine Lady Warriors might have some key players back but they still have some work to do.

Navajo Pine head coach Aretha Mariano said with 10 players on the varsity team the girls need to bond.

"It seems like we're starting fresh," she said. "I do have a lot of seniors but the caliber they have it's not where they should be at. The rest are very new."

Cinandre Dolfin, Demetria Clichee and Lindsay Brown are the team's key players.

For the Rehoboth Lady Lynx the experienced players are also key to the new season.

Rehoboth coach Zack Evans said all the team has to do is get the chemistry going and the team will be fine.

"The main core of our team is returning so we have a lot of experience on the team," he said. "We have a strong team coming back. We're pulling up some players from JV who, at this point, they're still getting the feel for the speed of varsity, but we have a lot of potential there."

Evans said the team is excited to have a competitive district especially with Navajo Prep back in District 1-2A.

The young Newcomb Skyhawks are looking at a rebuilding year with a number of freshmen on the team.

First-year head coach Gary Marrow said the girls need work but are learning.

"A lot of the young ones need a lot of skill work and we don't have much size," he said. "We've been working on a lot of drills to get it to the setter. It's one of those things where we're going into the season right now, most of practice has been on fundamental drills."

Bretta Bitsilly and Xandria Todea are returning seniors who are expected to lead the team.

"They work hard and they're a lot of fun to be around," Marrow said. "Attitudes are great and I honestly believe that later on in the season we're going to be a team that improves, improves, improves."

Navajo Preparatory School's head coach, Rainy Crisp, who has led the Eagles to the state tournament numerous times, is out for a couple of weeks.

Filling her shoes in junior varsity coach Jolynn Joe.

"We're young," she said. "We only have three seniors on the team. We're a little stronger on offense. We have our setters and hitters, our diggers, we really need to work on our passes."

Hitters include Brianna Kee and Veronica Redhouse.

"It's a tougher district with Navajo Pine and Rehoboth," Joe said. "We are excited to be back in this district. The girls are looking forward to it."

Cuba has moved down from Class 3A to 2A. They were district champion last year and head coach John Atencio said he's looking forward to another great season.

"We have three returners," he said. "The rest of the team is fairly young but we'll have a good nucleus.

Atencio said just because the team is going down a class they'll be just as competitive as they've always been.

"Our mission is obvious," he said. "It's to get back to the state tournament. One goal is to win district. The team that wins district automatically gets to go to state."

Class 1A

In Class 1A, Tse Yi Gai's new coach, Jessica Dallman, said the team is young.

"Strategy wise, four girls have been able to work together setting and hitting," Dallman said. "The biggest assets as a team is the ability to hold each other together, keeping good attitudes to do what they need to do on the court."

For the Ramah Mustangs, the team has no seniors and is looking to sophomore Skyler Webb, junior Krista Bond, junior Shelley Lalio and junior Gigi Durden.

Other coaches did not return messages by press time Wednesday.

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