Sandia completed a one-loss season with a three-set state title victory over the only team that had beaten them, Cleveland.
Photo courtesy of Aubrey Edge
Before the season started, the
Sandia (Albuquerque) girls volleyball team knew it had something special.
The Matadors had three goals: win the metro, district and state championships, the so-called Triple Crown for high school sports teams in the Albuquerque metro area.
And that's exactly what top-seeded Sandia (21-1) did, capping a spectacular 2013 season last Saturday with a three-game sweep of No. 6 seed Cleveland (Rio Rancho) in the 5A state championship match before a spirited crowd of 1,500 at the Santa Ana Star Center.
Game scores were 25-17, 25-18, 25-20. It was Sandia's first state title since 1973, the first year the New Mexico Activities Association started crowning girls state volleyball champions in New Mexico.
"For it to have been 40 years since the last state title, it is an honor to be able to add another state title (for the school)," Matadors coach Megan Holland said. "This season was amazing. We got better and better every step of the way. Our girls worked hard to take and hold onto the No. 1 spot all season long, even with all the pressure and expectations from others."
Sandia celebrates its state title.
Photo courtesy of Aubrey Edge
The Matadors certainly didn't look as if they were feeling any pressure to live up to the enormous expectations bestowed upon them before the season started.
The state championship match was the third meeting between the schools, with Sandia prevailing in three games on Sept. 14 and Cleveland winning in five games on Oct. 8.
But in the state title match, it was all Sandia. The Matadors didn't waste any time exacting revenge, as they needed only 75 minutes to finish off the Storm.
Despite not having a single Division I player on its roster — not yet, anyway — Sandia ran roughshod over the competition. A roster comprised of talented players such as setter
Sienna Sloan, libero
Alex Gonzales, defensive specialist
Jo Jo Donahue, middle blockers
Megan Sharratt and
Alyssa Conway and outside hitters
Amanda Carroll and
Miranda Sanchez played at a supremely high level throughout the season.
Even in its lone defeat Sandia went down fighting, eventually dropping a five-game decision.
"Losing to Cleveland in five was not our best game, and we didn't play very well," Holland said. "But it was a great wake-up call for us to realize that we have to work for every win. It was a big hiccup, but a much needed one."
Holland said the girls on the team displayed tremendous chemistry, challenging each other to new heights by holding everyone accountable.
"We also had great leadership. Our captains were a great example for their teammates, and we also had other players step up in the leadership role to help push our team," Holland said. "It is great as a coach to be able to sit back at times and allow the players just to talk to each other, and to see that desire and passion is phenomenal."
Although Sandia's season was devoid of much drama — out of its 21 wins, 14 came via three-game sweeps — there were plenty of thrills when it clinched the state championship.
"Just overwhelming excitement," Holland said. "The first person I hugged was my assistant coach, Kris Borland, and said, ‘We did it.' This year has been more than I could have ever imagined possible."
