Video: Sandia High's Raelynn EdgeThe 2015-16 volleyball picture in New Mexico is slightly cloudy at this time, but one thing is certain - four teams from Albuquerque appear to have a shot at claiming the Class 6A state championship.
Hannah Thompson, Cibola
Photo by Ken Rutt
Start with defending champion
Cibola (Albuquerque), which returns three starters from a 15-8 team. Coach Cydryce McMillian recalled, "Last year we were favored all year. We struggled a little bit at times, stayed focused, kept our eyes on the big prize and we jelled at the state. We've got a lot of rising juniors coming back and I'm excited."
The Cougars have one of the state's most explosive hitters in 6-foot junior
Hannah Thompson, a candidate for Player of The Year. McMillian calls her "the best athlete in the state. She jumps out of the gym."
The other returning starters are 5-10 junior
Destyni Brooks, who will switch from libero to hitting this year, and 6-1 senior middle blocker
Aleah Martinez, who is a third-year varsity performer.
La Cueva (Albuquerque) will challenge with four returning starters from a 14-9 team. The Bears also have a Player of the Year candidate in 5-9 senior
Abigail Stomp, who was one of just 29 setters chosen for the USA Volleyball National Youth A2 program. The four-year standout is expected to attend Northern Arizona University.
Other veteran returnees include 5-11 senior outside hitter
Madison Harris, 5-2 senior libero
Sophia Masuda and 5-9 junior middle hitter
Celeste Carmignani. Coach Steve Archibeque calls Carmignani "a hard hitter and one of the best blockers in the state."
Sandia (Albuquerque) has a strong nucleus of four starters from last year's 20-1 team, which lost to Cibola in the 6A semifinals. Coach Megan Holland lists 6-1 junior middle blocker
Abbey Willison as one of the state's premier players. She also counts heavily on 5-2 junior libero
Linnea Romero, 6-0 junior outside hitter
Rachel Sloan and 5-9 senior setter
Raelynn Edge.
Volcano Vista (Albuquerque) posted an 8-14 record last year against the state's third-toughest schedule and returns three starters, including Player of The Year candidate
Lyric Ellison, a 5-7 senior outside hitter who was second in kills last year. Coach Dawn C'deBaca also will rely on veterans
Jordan Breding, a 5-4 libero, who led in digs and aces, and 5-6 setter
Jaelynn Guajardo, a junior who led in assists.
Class 5ACentennial (Las Cruces) will be hard to unseat after winning its first state title in only its third year as a school. The Hawks were 21-4 and return four starters plus several others with extensive experience.
Coach Al Rosen expects big things from 5-9 senior setter
Destiny Ruiz, 6-0 senior middle hitter
Savannah Bush, 5-8 outside hitter
Iyabo Adeogba and 5-0 senior libero
D'Andra Espinoza.
Centennial's major challenge probably will come from
St. Pius X (Albuquerque), which had a 17-7 record last year.
Lia Mosher, Ruidoso
Courtesy photo
Class 4ALook for defending champion
Ruidoso and
Portales to battle it out for state honors.
Three starters are back from a 20-5 team for veteran coach Pam Allen, who has won five state championships and made the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame for her pioneering since 1969.
Lia Mosher, a 6-2 junior power hitter who lifts weights with the football team, will lead the Warriors. Senior
Andi Harrelson (5-7) is another outstanding athlete who won the long jump and javelin and was the high-point female at the 4A state track meet. The third veteran is 5-6 junior outside hitter
Bailey Jones.
The Portales Rams will count on three starters from a 10-14 squad. Coach Ruth Chavez has some big hitters in 6-foot senior
Kambrey Blakey, 5-9 senior
Bailey Rowley and 6-2 sophomore
Lindsay Blakey, Kambrey's younger sister.
Class 3ATexico may again rule Class 3A, coming off its eighth state championship in the last 10 years. Coach Kristen Scanlon returns four starters from a 23-1 team that won its last 21 matches and she said, "If we stay healthy we can have a great season. We've got a lot of pieces to the puzzle and have had a great summer."
The key veterans are 5-11 junior hitter
Jasmine Gannon, 5-9 junior middle blocker
Mel Davalos, 5-10 senior outside hitter
Brianna Reyna and 5-6 senior setter
Audrey Wren.
Class 2A/AElida - which has only 40 high school-age students - always can be expected to contend for a title. The Tigers, in fact, have notched the last five state championships in Class A.
Coach Darrell Chenault returns four starters from a 24-0 team.
Lauren Stone, a 5-11 senior middle blocker, leads the way and she is one of the best in the state. She will get plenty of support from 5-8 senior outside hitter
Kynzi Creighton, whose mother and aunt also played on Elida state championship teams, 5-10 junior outside hitter
Taylor Epps and 5-6 setter
Madi Haley.