No. 10 T-Birds Upset No. 8 Wranglers

The NMJC volleyball team earned their 24th win of the season in an upset victory over No. 8 Odessa College. The T-Birds took down the Wranglers in four sets 25-15, 25-23, 18-25, 25-21 to take sole possession of second place in the WJCAC.

The T-Birds trailed early on in set one of the match 10-8. NMJC tied the score up at 12-12 and promptly caught fire. The T-Birds grabbed an 18-14 advantage following an ace by Sofie Caballero and Taina de Lima Nunes along with three kills. 

The Wranglers managed to get a point back to make the score 18-15, but that proved to be the final gasp in the first set. The T-Birds went on a 7-0 run that featured two aces by Iva Popovic, two kills each by Olivia Swipiarksi and Gaby Arias, and a kill by Karielys Maldonado. The final kill by Arias in set one was a miraculous left handed strike across the court to give NMJC the 25-15 win.

The Thunderbirds had the distinct advantage in set two from the start. Everything seemed to go NMJC's way throughout the set. Iva Popovic registered a kill with her face to push the T-Birds two points ahead, 10-8. NMJC took a 12-8 lead, but Odessa continued to fight back in the set going on a 5-1 run to tie the score at 13. 

The T-Birds grew the lead up to three points, 18-15, following an incredible dig by Caballero that led to a Popovic kill. Odessa scored three straight points to tie the score at 18 apiece. The T-Birds score remained tied at 19 and then again at 23 all. A pair of kills by Gaby Arias lifted the Thunderbirds to a second-set win 25-23.    

The third set did not go according to plan for NMJC. The T-Birds dug themselves a deep hole to start after trailing 12-3. NMJC did not give up and grinded their way within one point, 18-17, following a Nickilah Whatley kill. Odessa closed out the third set on a 7-1 run to win the set 25-18.

The fourth set started off far better for the T-Birds. NMJC jumped in front of the Wranglers 14-8 behind kills by Gaby Arias, Polianna Hernandez, Karielys Maldonado, and Iva Popovic. Odessa rallied back to tie the T-Birds 16-16, which led to three straight ties between the teams before NMJC snatched a 19-18 lead. 

Two kills by Hernandez and one by Popovic extended the lead to five, 23-18.  The Wranglers came within three points, 24-21, but a Popovic kill ended the comeback and gave NMJC a 25-21 win in the fourth set to take the match.

Outside hitter Iva Popovic recorded a season-high 20 kills and 15 digs to notch her 13th double-double of the season. Setter Sude Omerickoglu registered 27 assists and Taina de Lima Nunes added 25 assists. 

Outside hitter Gaby Arias finished with 17 kills and matched a career-high in digs with 19.

Right side Polianna Hernandez had a strong performance for the T-Birds with nine kills. Right side Olivia Swipiarski recorded eight kills and libero Sofie Caballero registered 16 digs. 

The No. 10 T-Birds are now one game in front of Odessa in the WJCAC standings and now trail 11-0 NMMI by three games.

NMJC's 23-4 (8-3) next match will be Sophomore Day in the Caster Activity Center Saturday, Oct. 21 against Midland College at 2 p.m. MDT. The Thunderbirds will recognize eight sophomores from this year's team five minutes prior to the start of the match.