Can you dig it? Storm, Rams set for volleyball openers

RIO RANCHO — The sounds of sneakers squeaking and bouncing balls in hot August gyms around Rio Rancho can only mean one thing: Volleyball season is here.

Over at Cleveland High School, a team coming off a deep playoff run in 2024 is looking to get over the hump. Head Coach Charity Gomez and Co. have been regulars in the state title picture for several seasons now, but if they want to secure their first state championship since 2012, they’ll have to “keep their thunder.”

“I think it’s funny, because we are the Storm, so no one can steal our thunder,” Gomez joked. “But I feel like the thunder is our attack. Everybody can hit it hard. Everyone’s really smart. It’s a fun style of volleyball.”

But just a couple of miles down Broadmoor Boulevard, the Rams are looking to put their experience and IQ together to conjure up the perfect storm of their own and get back into the championship conversation.

“I like the fact that we’re problem solvers, that we’re competitors, and will compete really hard all the time,” Head Coach Toby Manzanares said. “If you’re looking for bigger, more physical teams, you have to look at Cleveland, at Las Cruces, at La Cueva. But, I think we’ve got the great ability to stay in our lane and play some pretty exciting and competitive volleyball.”

Manzanares’ team will be made up of nine seniors, all playing together since entering the program.

“It’s their team,” Manzanares said. “This is a group that came in together as a group of freshmen, they’ve hung around, stuck it out and put in some extra work to put themselves in a position to represent our program as seniors at the varsity level. So, you know, I think they want to end on a high note.”

Cleveland went through their senior exodus last year, losing three top players in Ceci Vance, Kelsey Heffner and Emma Wild as they went on to play at the collegiate level. But that has not cut down the firepower for the Storm, including returning college commits Azlynn Tittmann on the outside and Aaliyah Simpson at middle blocker.

Gomez is looking to her veterans not just as stars but as leaders.

“We have some young talent, some really young talent, and they’ve (the seniors) just accepted them with open arms,” Gomez said. “I feel like no one feels uncomfortable or anything, because they’re very welcoming. So that’s been nice to see.”

It’s a responsibility to help out the program, no matter if you are wearing green and navy or electric blue and silver, as Manzanares shares the same mindset.

“Our biggest question to them (the players) every year is how do you want to be remembered,” Manzanares said. “There are a lot of younger players that can learn from this varsity group because they’ve gone through it. They’ve seen a lot, they’ve learned a lot, they’ve done a lot. And I think there’s no greater way to leave a volleyball program.”

Key Rams to watch out for are outside hitter Jacey Mader, who finished second on the team in kills last season, and Keyara Haywood, who will be a presence at the middle block.

Rio Rancho will open the season at St. Pius X on Thursday, while the Storm will host Albuquerque Academy on Tuesday night.