Volleyball playoff pairings announced

Tucumcari went on the road this week for its play-in match at the Class 3A state volleyball tournament, while Logan hosted its first-round contest in the Class 1A tourney.

The Lady Rattlers (9-11), who captured an automatic berth due to winning its first district title in more than 40 years, earned the No. 12 seed and played at fifth-seed Hot Springs (16-7) at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Truth or Consequences.

Shortly after the pairings were announced Sunday afternoon, Tucumcari coach Dana Benavidez said she was hopeful about her team’s chances on the road.

“They have two strong hitters and a couple of good blockers; they’re pretty tall. We’re going to have to work tomorrow on hitting around the block and not hitting directly into it,” she said of Hot Springs.

“We’ve got a really good shot at winning that first-round game. We’re playing good; we really are. We are playing at a high, high level. Our record doesn’t indicate how good we are. Those who’ve watched us in the past three weeks might have seen how good we are.”

The winner of that match plays fourth-seeded Bosque (15-4) at 2 p.m. Friday at the Rio Rancho High School. The finals are at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Rio Rancho Event Center.

Robertson (23-0) earned the top seed in Class 3A.

Logan (16-6), fresh off a victory over No. 1-ranked Melrose, earned the fifth seed in the Class 1A tournament and played at home against 12th-seeded Quemado (12-9) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

(The Tucumcari and Logan games were after the Quay County Sun’s print deadline.)

Logan coach Robert Young said his team’s seed was “about where I figured.” He said he didn’t know much about his opening-round opponent.

“Judging from the prior years when we have played them, they are traditionally a really strong serving team with a quick floor defense,” he said of Quemado.

The winner of that match plays fourth-seeded Fort Sumner (17-6) at 10 a.m. Friday at Rio Rancho High School. The championship will be at noon Saturday at the Rio Rancho Event Center.

Melrose (23-1) earned the top seed in Class 1A.

San Jon (11-10) missed a berth in the Class 1A tournament. Coach Jaree Elliott estimated a few days before the playoff pairings her Lady Coyotes were just short of qualifying. San Jon finished fourth in District 6, considered by many the toughest small-school district in New Mexico.

Elliott acknowledged being disappointed with the bracket announcement Sunday but tempered that with what her squad accomplished, despite it having no juniors nor seniors.

“My girls’ goals at the beginning of the season were to have at least a .500 season and to beat two of our district opponents,” she said. “We accomplished both of those things, which is huge for a team with sophomores and younger, as well as a team that lost every game last year.

“Because of those goals we were fortunate enough to be in the situation where we were a strong possibility for state. I am so proud of the girls for being in that position … and our future is bright for the coming years.”