Rams Volleyball defeat Cougars, fourth straight victory at home

RIO RANCHO — It was another victory inside the Rams Athletic Center for the Rio Rancho volleyball team on Tuesday night, a familiar sight for Coach Toby Manzanares’ team, now notching four straight wins at home.

The Rams defeated Cibola High School three sets to one, giving the Rams four wins in their last five matches and a 2-1 record in district. Rio Rancho has only lost two sets in their last for victories combined, but that dominance wasn’t on display in the early goings against the Cougars.

In an adrenaline shot of an opening set, Cibola snuck out a set-one win 27-25 in the extended frame. With the Cougars coming in with a 7-9 record, this is a district matchup the Rams needed to capitalize on to gain ground in District 5A-1.

How did they respond? Three straight set wins. Junior Paige Spolar and senior Briland Kienle led the way with double-digit kills, including Spolar posting a season-high 16 kills. Cibola had no answer for the dominant middle hitter.

For Kienle, it is her second time recording double-digit kills this season, setting a new season high as well. Her 11 kills against the Cougars top her 10-kill match against Santa Fe at the beginning of September.

The two picked a great time to post season highs, as Cibola threw everything they had at the Rams. All four sets were decided by five points or less (25-27, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22).

Aside from the killing spree in the front row, serving became make-or-break for Rio Rancho. Rio committed 12 service errors, with seven different players recording at least one error.

While serving appeared to be a thorn in the Rams’ side, it was also vital in their set victories. Sophomore Addicyn Bishop recorded three aces on the night, combining with two other Rams for seven aces for the game.

Senior Jacey Mader kept busy on the outside, recording seven kills in 42 attacks, carrying the workload through the four-set match.

Cibola threw the first punch, but Rio Rancho won the round as the Rams moved to 9-7 on the year. Next up: another big district matchup via a road trip to Piedra Vista High School.