Game 1 vs Tyler JC

On Saturday, New Mexico Military Institute wrapped up play at the 16th annual NMMI Classic, taking down Tyler Junior College 3-0 in the Cahoon Armory Gym. In game two of the doubleheader, the Broncos followed up the first match by sweeping Dodge City to end the weekend with a perfect 4-0 mark. :

Picking up where they left off last night, the Broncos started the final day of the NMMI Classic: blazing. The home team opened the game on a 10-1 run with the help of nine straight points off the service of setter Dilean Bounds. Allison Miller added a few big kills, and the Broncos took the first set 25-10. 

In set two, Tyler earned the first point of the set, but the Broncos fought back to take 5-4 lead. Behind big swings by the outside hitter Sarah Schubert, the home side jumped out to a 16-8 advantage. Going on their own run, Tyler swung back and cut the deficit to six making it 23-17. Ending the second set like the first, Selin Guler smashed a ball over the net to secure a 25-18 NMMI win. 

Rolling over to the third set, NMMI took the first point for the first time of the match.

The Broncos then went on a scoring tear, including a save by Guler to keep one rally alive, followed by an ace by Fuka Sekita. Down 14-6, Tyler called a timeout. NMMI then went on another 7-1 run and looked to put the finishing touches on the sweep, holding 21-7 lead, the largest of the match. 

Wanting to extend the match, Tyler answered back with a 7-1 run of their own to make it a 24-16 game. Middle blocker Yulian Favela put an end to the match with kill over the middle that was too much for the Tyler defense to control, securing the 25-16 win. 

Game 2 vs Dodge City CC

To open game two of the Saturday doubleheader, NMMI struck first earning the first point of the set. The two sides battled early through the set, drawing at almost every point. Showing the first true separation, the Broncos took the 16-10 lead behind powerful swings by Miller, adding to her already impressive kill-count for the weekend.

Fighting to stay in the game, Dodge City clawed their way back to a one-point deficit, 21-20 . After a ball hit the ceiling, which helped Dodge City knot the set at 22, Schubert outsmarted the defense with some finesse to take the first set 25-23.

As they did all weekend, the Broncos separated themselves in the second set. The home side earned the first point before taking an initial 5-4 lead with Bounds pushing an attack past two Tyler blockers in the middle of the net.

Dodge City stuck around and stayed close, remaining within a few points of the Broncos until the 20-16 mark, before NMMI was able to close out the middle set on a 5-0 run. 25-16. Bounds continued to catch Dodge City defenders off guard to aid in collecting the final points.

Looking to extend the match, Dodge City took an early lead in the third set, 6-3. For every point the Broncos would score, Dodge City would answer with a couple of their own. 

In the longest rally of the set, another attack by Miller - who had an outstanding offensive tournament  for the Broncos - helped NMMI knot the match at 15.

Forchtner then took a moment to regather her squad. "I asked them to finish off these last 10 points the way we finished the last set, and not play the back and forth game," Forchtner said.

NMMI did just that, closing out the tournament with a 10-1 run, taking the final set, 25-16. 

NMMI played four of their 11 home games of the year in the NMMI Classic over the weekend and learned from the four games. "We don't the opportunity to play on our court that much, so for us to come out and play well was needed - because we don't get the opportunity to play on our court that much," Forchtner said.

The Broncos return to action next Friday, Aug. 30 as they open play at the Marriot's SpringHill Suites Cheyenne Invitational against Florida Southwestern State College at 11:30 a.m MDT. The invitational will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 31 with matches against Eastern Florida State College and Northeastern Junior College.