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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Lady Pintos Turning Support Role Around

By Harold Smith
Mountain View Telegraph
          The Moriarty High volleyball team, the Class 4A reigning state champions, only has to look to its spunky, 5-foot-3 coach to understand what it really means to have heart when the chips are down.
        "I do get tired," said Coach Kim Bell, who continues to sport a bald head due to chemotherapy during her ongoing fight against breast cancer. "But volleyball practice is the best part of my day."
        The Lady Pintos' mentor, the 2007 Class 4A coach of the year, is gallantly hanging in there. Her raspy chuckle during practices still echoes off the walls in John B. Salvo Gym.
        Bell's girls were 23-3, 9-1 in District 5-4A last year.
        "Coach supported us, and now we try to support her," said Moriarty's Alex Lehocky, a 5-9 senior middle hitter. "When she needs rest, (assistant coach Frank Gonzalez) steps in, and we know how to run a practice. She's still there most of the time. It's going really good for us."
        Moriarty is blessed with nine seniors on this year's varsity roster. The key 12th-graders are Kristin Valencia, the state player of the year; Brandi, Kristin's twin sister; and Jordan Russell, all of whom were named to the first-team all-state list last year.
        "I've got some girls coming back and some girls coming in," Bell said. "But given time, I think they'll do fine. I'm pretty confident the new girls can come in and do it. Most of the time, we'll let Jordan (a 5-7 setter) run the show with a 5-1."
        The Valencia siblings spent a good deal of their summer playing club basketball. But the two look to be ready to pick up where they left off in volleyball.
        "We're excited," said Brandi, a 5-9 outside hitter who can smoothly move to the middle. "I missed volleyball this summer."
        Russell and the Valencias are the team's co-captains.
        "It just that it seems like we shouldn't be seniors yet," said Kristin, a 5-9 middle hitter.
        Amy Mondragon is the team's 5-3 senior libero.
        "District (5-4A) will be a little less challenging (with St. Pius moving to 6-4A)," Mondragon said. "But Del Norte will still be a big threat."
        The Pintos remaining seniors include:
        Katie Spence, in what was a scary moment, banged her head hard on the court during Moriarty's scrimmage against Rio Rancho in Moriarty's All-Sports Practice Facility on Saturday.
        "Someone sank the ball so I was running for it, and I dove backwards and my head hit the floor," Katie said Sunday. "I was just a little dizzy, and I had a headache for a while. But I'm OK now.
        "I think we're going to have a good year," Katie continued. "We're really good on defense this year with me and Kelsey and Amy, and we still have Kristin and Brandi. I really think we have a good chance to win state again."
        The underclassmen will have their roles.
        "Alyssa Mondragon and Jesse Rowe will be floaters," Bell said. "And we've got others like Angel Laue. She's very athletic. She and Meisje will try to come in and do what Sonya (Chavez), Ceci (McClure) and Hilliary (Sheckler) did for us as seniors last year."
        After a season opening trip to El Paso this weekend, the Pintos will return to host their annual tournament on Sept. 5-6. Moriarty won the 16-team competition last year.
        Mountainair
        The Lady Mustangs (1-2) opened the season with a sixth-place finish at the eight-team Magdalena tournament.
        Carrizozo defeated Mountainair 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-18) in the first round on Friday.
        The 'Stangs beat Alamo Navajo 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-17) in the consolation bracket on Saturday.
        The host Lady Steers blanked Mountainair 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-16) in the fifth-place match on Saturday.
        "We were very inconsistent," Mustangs coach Sheldon Roberts said. "We let them get 7-, 8-point runs on us. But both 'Zozo and Mag are very good teams. Once we get some consistency, we'll be all right."
        Estancia
        The Lady Bears will commence the new season today with a road trip to Santa Rosa. Estancia will then compete at Moriarty's tourney next week.
        Manzano
        The Lady Monarchs will play at Del Norte for their first match on Tuesday. Manzano will travel to Sandia High on Sept. 5.