Libero, setter earns volleyball POY awards

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Dec 19, 2024 | Sports |

WINDOW ROCK – This year’s crop of candidates for player of the year in volleyball was pretty abundant.

The number of nominees topped at a dozen, which makes this job of choosing this year’s POY that more difficult. And while all the nominees had valid merits to being named POY, the Times has chosen these two individuals worthy of this award.

As a libero, senior Adrianna Dominguez anchored the Monument Valley defense with a team-high 423 digs, which is third-best in the state in Conference 3A.

Dominguez leaves MV as one of the school’s all-time digs leaders as she amassed 1,412 digs through four seasons.

This past season, she was named the 3A North Regional Defensive Player of the Year. She was also voted to the 3A North All-Region, First-Team.

In New Mexico, Pine Hill setter Lovely Pino finished the season with 490 assists in 89 sets played for an average of 5.5 assists per set.

Her total was fourth best in Class 1A.

Pino also served across 90 aces, which is second best in the small school classification.

Thoreau’s Sheila Willie and Window Rock’s Ashley Mitchell were tabbed the coach of the year.

Under Willie’s leadership, Thoreau finished the year at 17-8 overall, which included a first-place finish in District 1-3A. Despite being seeded No. 12 for the state tournament, the Lady Hawks gave their opponents fit during the double-elimination 3A state playoffs, losing to No. 5 Las Vegas Robertson in straight sets and No. 6 Ruidoso in five.

Behind Mitchell, Window Rock capped the season at 11-6 overall, which does not include regular season tournament games.

The Scouts finished second in the tough 3A North Region behind state powerhouse Monument Valley despite losing a solid core of seniors the previous year.

Window Rock won its 3A Conference Play-In Game and advanced into 16-team 3A Conference Championship bracket as the Scouts came up short to eventual state champs Valley Christian.