GRANTS, N.M. - The lady Pirates volleyball team opened the season splitting their first two games. On August 18, they played Bloom field and lost 3-2 (21-25,19-25,25-18,2522,11-15).
First year coach Kateri Chino said of the Bloomfield game, “We did not start out well–we showed up late but once we connected we we played better.' The Pirates dropped the first two games–then they took the third and fourth before dropping the fifth game.
The Pirates later played Taos on August 20 in a home game. The Pirates defeated the lady Tigers 3-1 (25-14, 21-25, 25-19, 2514).
“We showed up right away in the Taos game,” said Chino. “We watched film and reviewed our plays as well as our offense and defense—we didn’t allow them to make a comeback.”
Next up for the Lady Pirates is Miyamura (0-0) on the road on Tuesday, August 25th.
“I expect the girls to come out ready and to come out with energy,” said coach Chino of that upcoming game with Miyamura.
Chino, who began her coaching career over 10 years ago in Las Cruces was most recently head coach at Del Norte High School for 6 years. Chino, a member of the Pueblo of Acoma, wanted to be closer to home and took the head coach job at Grants High School this summer when the job presented itself.
“We had a good summer and good turnout–the girls have been pretty receptive to my structure and adapted really well,” said Chino of the preseason.
Cibola County Sports Round-Up The GHS girls soccer team played last weekend in the four corners and came back with a 1-2 record.
GHS “We lost to Robertson (3-0) in our first game and then we also lost to Aztec (7-0)---though we lost to Aztec by 7 we didn’t get past the second half last year with them–so that’s an improvement,” said GHS head girls soccer coach Shaun Sanchez. The Pirates won their last game 90 against Monte del Sol.
Sanchez highlighted key players from the weekend’s tournament. Sieana Salazar, a senior, played competitively in the Robertson game according to Sanchez. In the second game the goalkeeper, Katherine Salazar, a sophomore, had a good game against the strong Aztec team holding her own. In the Monte del Sol game freshman Adriana Sanchez had a hat trick–three goals.
Next up for the Lady Pirates will be Moriarty (00) on Tuesday, August 25.
The GHS boys soccer team will play their first game on Tuesday, August 25 against Moriarty (0-0).
The Laguna-Acoma Hawks football team played on the road for their season opener against Capitan and lost 28-7. Next up for the Hawks will be Newcomb on August 27 at Newcomb.
The Lady Hawks volleyball team is currently 12 after playing in a recent tournament and will play Wingate (0-0) on August 25 at home.