Video: Lexi Cole's highlights vs. Manzano
Watch the Wildcats' junior middle hitter in action.
Cleveland has played the strongest volleyball schedule in New Mexico this year entering the state tournament, according to MaxPreps' computer rankings. Even though No. 9 in the state and having compiled a 12-10 record, Cleveland's schedule is tops with a 14.2 ranking.
Cleveland has lost to Piedra Vista - which is 19-4 and ranked No. 3 in the state - three times by 3-1 scores. The Storm also has dropped 3-1 verdicts to No. 1-ranked Centennial and No. 6 La Cueva. Interestingly, Piedra Vista and La Cueva also are No. 3 and 6, respectively, in schedule toughness.
The second-strongest schedule at 12.0 belongs to No. 59-ranked Rio Rancho, which has been saddled with a 5-15 record thus far this fall. Two of those losses were to Cleveland by 3-0 margins.
Centennial, though the No. 1-ranked team with a 21-1 record, has only a 9.3 schedule rating, just missing the top 10. In its first year of playing Class 6A volleyball, Centennial is undefeated in New Mexico with 21 straight wins following a season-opening 3-1 loss to Coronado (El Paso). The Hawks have posted 3-0 shutouts over 19 opponents and yielded one game only to Cleveland and Hobbs.
Rio Rancho has the No. 1 and 2 teams in strength of schedule, but Las Cruces can hold its own with Mayfield, Las Cruces and Onate ranked No. 4, 5 and 9, respectively. And, Centennial just missed the top 10.
Following are the top 10 teams with won-lost records and strength of schedule:
1.
Cleveland (Rio Rancho), 12-10, 14.2
2.
Rio Rancho, 5-15, 12.0
3.
Piedra Vista (Farmington), 19-4, 11.7
4.
Mayfield (Las Cruces), 5-15, 11.5
5.
Las Cruces, 15-10, 11.1
6.
La Cueva (Albuquerque), 15-5, 10.7
7.
Clovis, 8-14, 9.8
8.
Hobbs, 15-7, 9.6
9.
Onate (Las Cruces), 9-12, 9.5
10.
Santa Fe, 6-15, 9.5
