Nadia Gallegos led the Toppers in spike kills with 12 and 4 blocks. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Anna Kirkland goes to the floor for this dig in the 3rd set. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Myella Krantz Spikes the ball past Joni Martinez in the 3rd set. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By MIKE COTE
Los Alamos Daily Post
Despite a great first half of the District 2-4A season, the Los Alamos Hilltopper volleyball team doesn’t
have the luxury of having an off night.
Los Alamos took control of the district race earlier this week with its dramatic 3-2 victory over the
Pojoaque Valley Elkettes, but the Elkettes and the Moriarty Pintos, another team the Hilltoppers went
down to the wire with, are still within striking distance.
Thursday, the Hilltoppers took on the Espanola Valley Sundevils, a team they had little trouble with
in the district opener, but a team the Hilltoppers didn’t want to take lightly, either.
And, despite a very good start by the homestanding Sundevils, the Hilltoppers earned another sweep,
picking up a 25-19, 25-13, 25-18 win at Edward Medina Gymnasium.
That game was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post’s YouTube channel.
The Sundevils, keyed by their top athlete Roxane DeLeon, had the hot hand early, jumping out to a 9-5
lead in the first set.
That set turned, however, on the serving of defensive specialist Bella Aguilar, who had perhaps her best
service run of the season, reeling off six straight points, half of them going to the floor untouched.
Following Aguilar’s streak, Espanola Valley (8-13 overall, 0-5 in 2-4A) failed to recover the entire rest of
the contest.
Los Alamos (13-6, 5-0) breezed through the second set, then head coach Joe Palmer emptied his bench
in the third set, and most of the bench players had solid outings.
For the Hilltoppers, Nadia Gallegos was almost unstoppable at the net Thursday. She collected 12 spike
kills and four block kills, both were match highs. Michelle Macias finished with 6 spike kills.
DeLeon started out like gangbusters, earning five spike kills for Espanola Valley in the first set, and
added three more in the second set, but Los Alamos’ defense was able to adjust in the second half of
the contest and limited her effectiveness from there.
There are just two weeks remaining in the regular season, and the Hilltoppers have three district
matches remaining. The Hilltoppers will host Taos Oct. 28, then have a huge match at Moriarty Nov. 2
before their regular season finale with the Elkettes Nov. 4.
Solenne Thelliez and Ashley Hammond block the spike attempt from Daphne Talamantes in the 1st set. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Angelina Passalacqua bumps the ball into play in the 1st set. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
