Hannah Bergemann and Callie Goda block a spike attempt by Charity Argo in a match against the Artesia Bulldogs in the state championship playoffs at in the Rio Rancho Event Center last weekend. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By MIKE COTE
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post
The resurgence of the Los Alamos Hilltopper volleyball team continued during the 2022 season with an outstanding run in the Class 4A playoffs this past weekend.
Los Alamos’ impressive run in the playoffs, coming back from a second round loss to make Saturday’s semifinal, was the highlight of an excellent season, in which the Hilltoppers notched 21 victories and came within one set of winning a fourth consecutive district title.
This current streak for Los Alamos is among the best in the history of a very successful program, and in 2022, the Hilltoppers were able to pile up victories despite not having a marquee offensive player.
Instead, the Hilltoppers got contributions from a slew of players upfront, behind their top-tier setter Angelina Passalacqua. Passalacqua spread the ball around to her front line hitters efficiently throughout the season, which was a big factor in the team’s success.
Los Alamos got off to a bit of a slow start in 2022, going 5-4 after 9 matches, but reeled off 7 straight wins between mid-September and mid-October before its streak was snapped by Hope Christian. The Huskies knocked off Los Alamos in straight sets Oct. 15.
The last laugh would belong to the Hilltoppers, however, when they dropped Hope 3-2 to advance to the semifinal round of the state playoffs. In that match, the Hilltoppers had to bounce back from a disastrous set four to win.
Interestingly this season, Los Alamos went 4-1 in fifth sets, including a decisive fifth-set win over its district rival, Pojoaque Valley, in the regular season finale – Pojoaque Valley beat Los Alamos 3-1 Oct. 18 in their first district meeting and stopped the Hilltoppers’ four-year streak of district titles on the strength of that victory.
Los Alamos went 7-1 in district this season. During district play, front-line players Michelle Macias, the team’s most consistent offensive weapon, and Solenne Thelliez, who turned in huge performances in several key district matches, helped put the Hilltoppers in position to challenge Pojoaque Valley for the title.
The defense was anchored in 2022 by libero Anna Kirkland with plenty of help, particularly late in the year, by Gianna Benelli.
Saturday’s 3-1 loss to St. Pius was the final match in the career of seniors Macias, Thelliez, Kirkland, Shyanne Garcia, Callie Goda, Ashley Hammond and Lindsay Ferran.
Anna Kirkland digs a ball in the first set as Gianna Benelli backs her up in the match against the Bulldogs. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com