Roswell: For the second time this season, the Gateway Christian varsity volleyball team walked away with a 3-0 win over the New Mexico Military Institute, this time in their home arena, the Redrock Warrior Center. Although the Lady Colts did look much improved over their earlier contest with the Lady Warriors, back on Aug. 28, the blocking ability of Gateway’s Kathyrn Worall, combined with the outside hitting ability of Nikki Wagner, proved to be too much to overcome.

Game one was closer than the 25-16 score might sound, as both teams battled to a 13-13 tie before Gateway was able to break away for the win.

Momentum stayed with the Warriors in game two, as they took an early 8-1 lead, then extended that to 12-2 before the Institute finally managed a side-out. NMMI senior Erica Ratliff then served up two aces and four points to lead the Colts back to within five, 12-7, but that’s as close as they would get, dropping the second game 25-13.

The third game proved to be the closest contest of the night. NMMI led early, 6-4, but couldn’t pull away. Both teams traded side outs until at 15 all, Worrall stepped up to the service line and put Gateway ahead 19-15. Perhaps one of the best rallies of the match occurred with Gateway up 20-16. Both teams made some great plays and excellent saves, especially Gateway senior libero Grace Nobles, who managed to save an errant first hit that travelled to within five feet of the back (west) wall of the Warrior gymnasium. Gateway went on to win the point, and the game, 25-18.

Head Colt coach Stephanie Schooley saw some positives in her team’s play tonight over last Tuesday’s 0-3 loss to Hondo. “We played so much better. We pulled together as a team. Nobody talked last match vs. Hondo, but today, we really looked like a team.”

Head Warrior coach Kerri Pirtle loved the performance of her bench. “I like that I got a chance to get some of my girls in off the bench. I’m really proud of the way they played. They kept a high level of enthusiasm and energy out there on the court and hustled to make the plays.

The win by Gateway puts their record at 6-6 on the season, with their next slated contest at home vs. Mescalero Apache School on Tues., Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. The Institute loss evens up their record at 9-9 on the season with their next match in Ruidoso against the JV squad at 4 p.m. on Thurs., Oct. 1.

In the JV contest, Gateway won in convincing fashion in only two games: 25-3 and 25-9. Defensive specialist Lindzey Gill served up 20 aces and 28 points in the two games for the Warriors.