By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
As a district championship match should be it was a close one as the Lady Demons of Des Moines and the Lady Red Devils of Springer met in Des Moines Saturday evening to determine who would own the District 1A championship title for the 2017 volleyball season.
Des Moines came into the title match 18-2 overall with a district record of 7-0. Springer’s record overall was 11-11 with a district record of 5-3.
In game one it was close until something happened after a tie at five. Des Moines quickly made the plays that scored the points. Before long Des Moines was up 12-6. Des Moines continued their domination as McKenna Hittson went to the net for the kill or the block. At the net she often met Springer’s Katy Scott. The two would battle at the net several times during the championship match. Des Moines soon widened the score spread 20-11. At the end of the game Des Moines put on in the win column with a 25-15 score.
Game two started out close as well. Katy Scott was at the net for the block often for Springer to keep this game even closer than game one while the other Lady Red Devils like Alicia Arias kept the ball in play. 15-15 was the score midway through before Des Moines managed to make the plays work and pull out to a 25-20 win.
Game three saw the Lady Red Devils take control and while the Lady Demons made the kills it would be a Lady Red Devil win as the girls played the ball well making long volleys and working for the point. At the end of the game it was a Red Devil win 25-17.
In game four the Lady Demons found the groove they lost in game three and pulled out in front quickly. The Lady Red Devils played the ball to keep the score close until midway through the game when Des Moines widened the point spread going up 20-14. Des Moines went on to win the game and match to take the district title.
Both teams can now look forward to the state tourney to be held in Rio Rancho beginning Thursday with pool play.
2 Elena Maestas; 4 Kirsten Gurule; 5 Ashley Saenz; 6 Katie Shubert; 8 Hannah Burton; 9 Audrie Ritchie; 10 Shylow Saenz; 11Katy Scott; 12 Shania De Herrera; 15 Alicia Arias; Emma Sandlin
1 Kye Gates; 2 Sydney Turner; 4 Makenna Hittson; 5 Grace Hall; 6 Hadley Miller; 7 Natashia McDonald; 8 Allison Guerrero; 9 Taya Archuleta; 10 Angie Lopez; 11 Jacee Sumpter; 12 Abigail Trujillo; 15 Ali Sanchez;
