KC holds off scrappy ’Prep for first win

KIRTLAND, N.M.

Despite early-season jitters and a sneaky opponent, the Kirtland Central volleyball team pocketed its first win.

The Lady Broncos held off Navajo Preparatory 3-0 in their season opener last Thursday. KC won in sets of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-15.

Kirtland Central head coach Nadia Begay-Watson said it was a solid win.

“Navajo Prep, they’re great, they’re going to do good things,” she said. “It’s actually a good win for us because if they win their district, it’s good for us.”

Navajo Prep took small leads in the match and kept Kirtland Central close.

Begay-Watson said the team realized Navajo Prep’s potential from the start as they barely won, 25-22.

“We just had a really slow start and I think we’re just trying to get the hang of each other and trying to get the rotation down,” she said.

The Lady Broncos came back in the second set.

Kirtland Central led 9-5 before going on a 7-1 run to lead 16-6.

Navajo Prep chipped at the Lady Broncos’ lead and narrowed the deficit to about five points. But Kirtland Central went into high gear for the 25-20 win.

Navajo Prep head coach Rainy Crisp said her team was working with only one week of practice.

“No preseason really hurts us,” she said. “But I told them there’s no excuses – we have to come out, we had to be ready.”

In the final set, Navajo Prep took an early lead 3-2. The two teams went back and forth then an out-of-bound serve by the Lady Eagles gave Kirtland Central the opportunity to end the game.

Kirtland Central went on an 11-2 run to win the match.

Crisp said ultimately their mistakes and the little time they’ve played together got the best of them.

“I’m really happy with the way the girls played,” she said. “Of course, we’ve got tons of things to work on but to come out and keep it close with Kirtland, it’s a good start for us.”

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