San Jon spikers fall in season opener

SAN JON - The host Lady Coyotes struggled with their serve-receive game during a season-opening volleyball loss Saturday against Roy-Mosquero, but a come-from-behind win in the first set may have provided a sliver of hope for the rest of the year.

The Lady Pirates had more frontline firepower and depth in their lineup, and they often showed it during their 21-25, 25-10, 25-7, 25-11 non-district victory.

It looked as if it was going to be more of a dogfight when the Lady Coyotes, down 7-15 in the opening set, went on a 14-3 run to give them a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Roy-Mosquero coach Abbey Bell said jitters got the best of her team during that set.

"There were a lot of nerves," she said. "I also was starting three eighth-graders, and it was their first varsity game.

"After they got their nerves out, I think they reverted back to how they normally play."

First-year San Jon coach Bart Cadenhead can relate to the Lady Pirates' youth and inexperience. His Lady Coyotes have no seniors, two juniors and a bunch of sophomores and freshmen.

He also said his team became gassed the rest of the match - mostly because he essentially has only six varsity players. Three eighth-graders are on the bench as emergency fill-ins.

"We were fresh, we were moving, we were passing, we were talking (in the first set)," he said. "In the second and third matches, we got a little tired, and we had a bit of a mental breakdown.

"When you got only six girls, mainly, I don't have something to push them, and it makes it a little tough."

Roy-Mosquero had more height at the net, and it showed with a 19-7 advantage with kills. For Bell, that wasn't an accident.

"I was a hitter in high school and college, and that's what I love," she said. "That's what I hope to have – a hitting team."

Sylviana Baca led the Lady Pirates with six kills, and Selma Baca added five.

Sarah Archuleta, a junior, led the Lady Coyotes with five kills and performed a lot of setting and fielding duties for her team.

"We still got some things to develop with her so she can show her talents a little bit better," Cadenhead said.

He said he told his girls after the match to not be discouraged.

"We now got some things to work on, and we've got to get into better shape," he said told his team in the locker room after the match.

"These are good girls, good attitudes," he added. "I'm proud to have them on our team. We'll just keep plugging."

The match was played in the school's older gymnasium until water damage from a storm and a leaky roof are repaired in the new gym. The old gym doesn't have air conditioning, which leads to many sweltering practices for the Lady Coyotes.

"It's warmer when you have practice in here. I've been losing a lot of weight, like I'm back in training for college ball," Cadenhead said, laughing.

Fortunately for Saturday, the old gym was much less uncomfortable due to rainy skies and outdoor temperatures that barely hit 70 degrees. School officials also placed a large fan in one corner.