New Mexico high school girls volleyball playoff preview

Sandia (Albuquerque) is the only unbeaten large-school (Class 6A) volleyball team in the state entering Thursday's pool play as the annual state tournament gets underway at the Star Events Center in Rio Rancho. Bracket play will begin later that afternoon with the champion eventually being crowned on Saturday.

The defending champion Matadors have amassed a perfect 19-0 record and are seeded No. 1 in their class. However, they are No. 2 in the state according to the MaxPreps Computer Rankings behind Cleveland (Rio Rancho), which has an 18-3 record. Sandia inflicted two of those losses, one by a 3-2 margin and one at 3-0 in back-to-back outings.

Sandia coach Kris Borland is puzzled by the state ratings and admits, "It fires my girls up, yes. They're motivated girls, nonetheless."

The Matadors have plenty of weapons, starting with 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter Amanda Carroll, the reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year. In Class 6A she ranks No. 3 with a .444 hitting percentage, No. 4 with 315 digs No. 5 with 100 blocks and No. 7 with 289 kills. She also has 28 solo blocks.

On Wednesday Carroll will sign with Division I Florida Gulf Coast.

Borland calls Carroll "a great player, very productive, team-oriented, humble and loves to work."

She is ably backed by another senior outside hitter, 5-8 Miranda Sanchez, who is being scouted by several Division II colleges. She has 300 digs, 164 kills, 24 solo blocks and 19 aces. Both Sanchez and Carroll also excel on defense.

There is plenty of other talent, too.

Sophomore Abbey Willison ranks No. 1 in 6A with 154 blocks and senior Alyssa Conway is second with 133 blocks. Senior libero Alex Gonzales is No. 3 with 316 digs and No. 5 with 43 aces. The three-year starter has handled 244 chances with just 39 errors. Junior setter Raelynn Edge ranks No. 5 with 452 assists and also has 28 aces.

The top seed in Class 5A is Piedra Vista (Farmington) with an 18-3 record, while the Class 4A top seed is Ruidoso, which has a 15-5 record.

In Class 3A Texico, which has won six of the last eight state titles and 10 overall, holds the No. 1 seed with a 20-1 record. Since a 3-1 loss to Class 6A Santa Fe, the Wolverines have notched 18 consecutive victories.

Veteran coach Kristen Scanlan says, "We have a great team. They love to play volleyball and be together."

The Wolverines definitely have staying power as evidenced by a high-scoring 31-29 victory over Dexter in the middle game of a 3-0 sweep. It marked the highest-scoring game in Scanlan's seven years as a head coach.

Junior outside hitter Brianna Reyna appears headed for her second year as an All-State selection. The 5-9 standout is averaging 13 kills, 14 digs and 2.5 aces. Jasmine Gannon, a 5-11 sophomore outside hitter, is averaging 19 kills, seven digs and two aces. Senior libero Chyanne Scarborough averages 14 digs and junior setter Audrey Wren averages 22 assists.

In Class AA, Melrose (15-5) is the No. 1 seed, while the No. 1 seed in Class A, Elida, is the only other unbeaten in the state with a 22-0 record.