NMJC (VB) Falls in Region V Tournament, Sojic Named WJCAC Newcomer of the Year

The T-Birds dropped both matches on Friday, Nov. 8 to end their season with an 18-5 (7-7) record.

Match 2

NMJC volleyball fell to No. 1 seed NMMI in the second round of the Region V Tournament in four sets on Friday, Nov. 8.

The Thunderbirds led the first set 24-19. The Broncos scored five straight points to pull within one point, 24-23. Andjela Sojic delivered from the outside to provide the critical kill to win the set for NMJC 25-23. 

The next three sets did not go to plan for NMJC as they dropped three in a row 25-18, 25-20, and 25-15 to fall to NMMI in four sets. 

Andjela Sojic recorded 15 kills in the loss. Libero Sofie Caballero ended the match with 20 digs while outside hitter Leticia Neves notched 11 digs.

Setter Sude Omerickoglu notched 23 assists and 10 digs. Taina de Lima Nunes added 12 assists and 13 digs.

The Region V Tournament is double elimination as the T-Birds fell to 1-1. 

Match 3

The Thunderbirds ended the season with a four set loss (25-23, 18-25, 25-17, 25-20) to Vernon College in the Region V Tournament on Friday, Nov. 8. 

NMJC trailed in the first set 20-16. The T-Birds battled back to tie the score up at 23-23 on an Andjela Sojic kill. Vernon scored the next two points to take the first set 25-23. 

NMJC bounced back in the second set with a dominant performance winning 25-18 to notch it up at 1-1. The Thunderbirds started the second set down 10-2 but they battled back to pull within three 14-11. The Chaps turned it back on and pulled away, winning set three 25-20. NMJC was unable to force a fifth set falling in set four 25-15.

Outside hitter Andjela Sojic finished with 15 kills for the second consecutive match. She ends her freshman campaign with a team-high 352 kills. 

Outside Leticia Neves recorded 12 digs and nine kills. Setter Taina de Lima Nunes picked up her 11th double-double of the season finishing with 20 assists and 11 digs. Libero Sofie Caballero added 21 digs.

Postseason Awards

The WJCAC announced postseason awards following the conclusion of the Region V Tournament. 

Freshman outside Andjela Sojic was named the WJCAC Newcomer of the Year. Sojic led the team in kills with 352 and kills per set at 2.77. Middle Zaira Romero earned WJCAC All-Conference with 205 kills and a team-leading .246 hitting percentage.

Setter Taina De Lima Nunes was named a WJCAC Honorable Mention along with her teammate Duda Tonella. De Lima Nunes led the team in service aces per set with .23 and ended her season with 539 assists. Tonella, a middle for the T-Birds, led the team with 1.09 blocks per set and ended the season No. 1 on the team in blocks with 104.