State VB Day Two: Rams eliminated, Storm fall to La Cueva

RIO RANCHO - One team's season came to a close, while another is fighting to keep theirs alive. A jam-packed Friday of state tournament volleyball at Rio Rancho Events Center had a little bit of everything, and here is how it all went down:

Rio Rancho 0, Organ Mountain 3

In a tournament run that started with a bang, the Rams were met with their state exit on Friday afternoon. In an elimination matchup, the Knights of Organ Mountain put away Rio Rancho in a competitive three-set win (28-26, 25-16, 25-20).

Despite holding a lead for the majority of the first set, including a 23-21 advantage late, the Rams lost a gut-punch of an opener 28-26.

Rio Rancho found itself in a familiar spot. Coughing up a lead and losing an extended set was reminiscent of their comeback win against Cibola in the opening round, a three-set emphatic match that the Rams would now have to try and replicate.

But unlike that victory over the Cougars, the Rams' front row had trouble keeping up with the Knights. The senior trio of Maggie Coats, Alyssa Silva and Annabelle Jorgensen was impressive at the net for Organ Mountain.

Rio had a tough time containing the three, not being able to get off clean blocks and stifling their swings. For the Rams’ attack, it felt as if the Knights had an answer for their every move with a high-octane defense.

Names like Paige Spolar, Jacey Mader and Briland Kienle put up a great fight, almost finding that much-needed run for the Rams on several occasions. At some points, it felt as if Rio was just a play away from turning the momentum. But in the end, it was too little, too late.

Organ Mountain sealed the deal with a 25-20 set-three win, ending the season for the Rams and the high school careers for a majority of this senior-based Rio Rancho roster. Teammates embraced after the final play to soak in one last moment all together on the court, with this chapter of the Ram Volleyball program now in the books.

Cleveland 0, La Cueva 3

Friday was a big day for the Storm. Not only did they have a chance to punch their ticket to the final four on Saturday, but they would get their third shot of the season at the mighty La Cueva Bears.

La Cueva took the regular-season and metro championship matchups, 3-1 and 3-0, with Cleveland hungry for revenge on the big stage.

Overcoming their lingering La Cueva yips with a quarterfinal win would be quite the story, but it may have turned out to be too much of a fairy tale.

La Cueva swept the Storm (25-20, 25-19, 26-24) in a competitive three-set match. The battle of dominant front rows was on full display, with the Bears powering their way past a relentless Storm attack. No set was decided by more than six points in this blockbuster of a Friday night meeting.

While they put up a great fight, Cleveland now has a lot of work to do. They will play Volcano Vista in a Saturday morning elimination match. Win that, and they will find themselves in the semifinals with top-seed Las Cruces. If they can survive that gauntlet of a morning and afternoon, they will likely have their fourth look at La Cueva in the championship game.

Cleveland versus Volcano Vista is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Rio Rancho Events Center.