‘Excited to get rolling’

4A VB coaches welcome changes in district

FRUITLAND

The Kirtland Central High School volleyball team has its eyes on the prize this coming season.

Coming off of a historic season that included clinching a state seed and finishing in the quarterfinals last season, the Lady Broncos are putting in all their chips.

Kirtland Central head coach Nadia Begay-Watson said her team has been putting in the effort off-season and is going into the season with some confidence.

“I’m hoping that this year we’ll be able to finish with, hopefully, a district championship,” she said.

The Lady Broncos graduated seven seniors last season, but those who are young and experienced are expected to step up in a big way.

Begay-Watson, who is in her fifth season as head coach, said the team returns at least five players with a good amount of experience which includes summer workouts, which most of them have been dedicated to.

“We lost a lot of seniors but these girls, they’re ready,” she said. “I know they are.”

Some of the key returners include hitters Talia Ockerman and Gabrianna White-David, both juniors, and senior Peanut Dryden, who will more than likely take over as lead setter. Other hitters include Kambree Pierro and Siigrid Lii’bilnaghahi.

Kirtland sees some familiar opponents this season in 4A District 1. Kirtland Central, Aztec, Bloomfield, Miyamura, and Gallup all moved back down to Class 4A from 5A and welcome Shiprock into the district.

Begay-Watson said it will be another competitive season that she and her team are looking forward to.

“I hope we’re up there,” she said. “Aztec’s always tough, Shiprock, they’ve always seemed like they’re young but for the most part they always compete. Gallup area, they’ve been getting better over time since I’ve been coaching.”

Begay-Watson added that her team will have their moments in the early season, but they will follow the philosophy that carried them through the last season — it doesn’t matter how they start, it’s how they finish.

“We might struggle at the beginning as far as getting everybody where we need to be, and I think that’s one thing that comes with time,” she said. “I have athletes that don’t play all year round, so it takes a while to get where we need to be.”

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