T-Birds Begin Conference 2-0.
September 16, 2023

T-Birds Begin Conference 2-0.

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The No. 3 ranked T-Birds defeated Clarendon College in three sets Saturday afternoon (25-12, 25-16, 25-18).

NMJC jumped out to a 15-8 lead over the Bulldogs to start set one. They extended their lead to eight, 19-11, later in the set. Clarendon added a point to make the match 19-12. The T-Birds tacked on six-straight points to win the first set easily 25-12.

Outside hitter Iva Popovic gave the T-Birds a 10-6 lead with an ace in set two. NMJC maintained a four-point lead 13-9 after Olivia Swipiarski and Karielys Maldonado blocked the Bulldogs for the point.

The T-Birds scored an additional three points via a Kristina Lichtenhan kill, Nickilah Whatley and Swipiarski block, and a Maldonado ace that gave NMJC a 16-9 advantage. 

A kill by Whatley moved the lead back up to seven points, 18-11. Popovic had two kills during the 5-0 run that gave the Thunderbirds a 22-11 lead. Setter Taina de Lima Nunes ended set two with an ace to give NMJC a 25-16 win in set two. 

The T-Birds took a more relaxed approach in the third set with each member of the team subbing in for the first time this season. NMJC took a 14-9 lead in the third set highlighted by a Lichtenhan kill, Katrin Hardardottir kill, and a Lichtenhan and Whatley block.

The Bulldogs then cut the deficit three, 15-12. Two kills by Popovic and a kill by Whatley doubled the lead up to six points 18-12. Lichtenhan finished off Clarendon with back-to-back kills to take the final set 25-18.

Outside hitter Iva Popovic finished with 15 kills. Libero Sofie Caballero recorded 15 digs and setter Sude Omerickoglu registered 19 assists and five digs.

Middle blocker Karielys Maldonado finished with seven blocks. Outside hitter Kristina Lichtenhan notched eight digs and four kills in her first action this fall. 

The No. 3 ranked T-Birds 17-1 (2-0) will hit the road mid-week to face in-state rival New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. MDT.