3A-1A: 2015 SMALL SCHOOL PRESEASON PREVIEW
Goooood morning, it's August 15th and school is either starting around the state of New Mexico or has started. Today, we take a look at the final run down of our 2015 preseason rankings for volleyball in New Mexico.
3A: Texico The Overwhelming Favorite
The Wolverines basically walked to the 2014 3A title going an impressive (23-1, 6-0), dropping only a single game to 6A Santa Fe High early in the season. Currently, they are riding a 21-game winning streak that had them almost dominating each match (9-1) in the 2014 State Tournament. Brianna Reyna (2016/OH) and Audrey Wren (2016/S) are two players, regardless of classification, that have proven that they could play with any team that steps on the court with them. Reyna, comes from a talent in her own household and will be a special prospect to watch throughout the 2015 campaign.
The Next Tier
2. Eunice
3. Navajo Pine
4. Santa Rosa
5. Desert Academy
Yes, the Wolverines are in a league of their own right now. However, don't bet the house on the Wolverines just yet the voice of a Eunice fan (hypothetically). The Eunice Cardinals went 16-8 last season along with playing in the Final Four. They return the entire roster outside of one play who graduated. Kennede Caperton (2016/OH) and M'lee Vinson (2016/OH-S) are hoping to make believers of the Cardinals as legit contenders.
The 2014 runner-up Navajo Prep Eagles enter the season No. 3 after going 20-3, 8-0 last season. They return seven players from a talented team a season ago and hope to make sure they stay at the top of the classification. They have had an impressive resume the last eight years having deep runs in the postseason. Two seniors in Jasmine Coleman and Lashauntai Adams will be the total focus point carrying this team to the promise land.
Yvonne Guiterrez (MB/2016), Mikayla Garnand (OH/2018) and Sharmaine Benally (L/2017) hope to make believers of the Santa Rosa Lions. They will look to build of a 15-7, 7-0 season that resulted in a state tournament birth in 2014. The surprise team that will be in the mix is the Wildcats who return 9-players to 15-10, 6-2 team a year back. The three names we hear about for this squad is Rachel Stumbo (2017/MH), Rebecca Soifer (2017/OH) and Mikayla Bohlman (2019/MH).
Next Up, The Young Guns
6. Laguna-Acoma
7. Dexter
8. Cuba
9. Tularosa
10. Mesilla Valley
The Laguna-Acoma Hawks went 14-10, 6-1 last season and welcome back what will be a dominate four prospects for the next two years. Talia Paytiamo (OPP/2017), Kaitlin Lucero (OH/2017), Mikaela Vallejos (OH/2017) and Autumn Smith (OPP/2017) create a team that the folks in New Laguna will love to support.
The Dexter Demons (No. 7) roll in next with a talent of sophomores who all experience varsity as freshmen. This will be a deep team for three more years, they finished 12-10, 3-5 last season. Will have to battle with a talented district. The Cuba Rams (15-5, 5-2) has their own trio that hopes to jump into the next bracket of top teams with Sydney Cayaditto (2016), Paige Sam (2016) and Mariah Maestas (2017).
Two juniors will lead the Wildcats of Tularosa in 2015. Gracie Hooten (MB/2017) and Cassie Vickery (MB/2017) will be the duo to carry the Wildcats for two more years after a successful sophomore campaigns. Shania Gililand (S/2016) is another name to know for the Cats. Another 2017 duo in Kara Foreman (MB) and Hannah Nunley (MB) round out the top-10 this preseason for the Mesilla Valley Christian SonBlazers who went (9-13, 4-2) last season.
The Rest With the Sprint
11. Tucumcari
12. Santa Fe Prep
13. Rehoboth Christian
14. Clayton
15. Pecos
16. Estancia
17. Dulce
18. Crownpoint
19. Lordsburg
20. Loving
21. Monte Del Sol
22. Raton
23. Capitan
24. Tohatchi
25. Newcomb
26. Native American Community Academy
2A: Two To Tango
1. Meslrose
2. Ramah
3. Tatum
4. Fort Sumner
5. Mora
The Melrose Buffaloes (No. 1) and the defending champion Ramah Mustangs enter the season No. 1 and No. 2. By some surprise we flipped roles from the final game last season. The Buffaloes who went 17-6, 5-1 last season enter as the top team in New Mexico in 2A. The graduate two players and welcome back a solid trio in Addisen Dial (OH/2016), Ember Woods (OH/2016) and Taylor Bostwick (MH/2016).
Don't sleep on the reigning champs though as Jordyn Lewis (OH/2016) and Taea Hill (MH/2016) will be out to prove us wrong. These two are two of the best players in 2A and will look to defend their title.
Tatum enters at the No. 3 spot, returning the entire roster minus three who graduated from the 17-6 season. Paris Allred (MH/2016) will look to lead the Fort Sumner Vixens this season. The Vixens only graduate three from a 11-12 team. Representing the north is the Mora Rangerettes who went 16-7, 10-1 and played in the Elite Eight last season. They might be the surprise team in the top five over a top team in Logan but they only lost two and welcome back some serious talent looking to go further in the State Tournament.
Round of the Top 10 With a Spike
6. Logan
7. Jal
8. Magdalena
9. Hagerman
10. Questa
Logan is the surprise as the No. 6 team in the preseason rankings. Questa is the surprise making the jump into the top-10 as the dark horse bringing back the entire roster minus one off the 13-8 team. Jal is the unknown that could be ready for the next step or fall out. Magdalena and Hagerman are the two we could see playing late in the State Tournament.
Magdalena has Jaydin Stephens (2016), Michaela Zamora (2018) and Julie Zamora (2017) to lead the run. Hagerman brings Jamie Warf (2016), Hannah Hamill (2017) and Emeli Najera (2016) to the table.
1A: Five Listed
1. Corona
2. Elida
3. Santa Fe Waldorf
4. Springer
5. Carrizozo
