Elkettes sweep Lady Braves in volleyball

The better team won.

This time.

There was no doubt about that.

"Pojoaque is the number one team in the state right now," said Seatha Chavez, Santa Fe Indian School head coach, after the Elkettes swept her Lady Braves 25-15, 25-16, 25-13 in a District 2AAA volleyball match in Francis L. Abeyta Gymnasium.

"They pass, they hit, they serve. They can do it all. And they are not going to make any mistakes. It was unfortunate that we made too many unforced errors to give them a game."

Chavez, though, believes the best is yet to come from her Lady Braves.

"We want to prove we're better than we've shown the last two games," Chavez said. "We want to be better, we can be better and we will be better."

Pojoaque Valley raised its overall record to 10-2 and climbed to 2-0 in the district. Santa Fe Indian School slipped to 6-5 and 0-2.

St. Michael's routs Wolves in soccer

The Horsemen of St. Michael's High School made short work of Santa Fe Waldorf on Monday, blanking the Wolves 10-0 in a District 2A-AAA boys soccer match at Brother Abdon Memorial Field.

The match ended in 45 minutes on the 10-goal mercy rule. The score was 8-nil at the conclusion of the 40-minute first half.

Eric Fishback scored three goals, while Grant Duke and Jeff Najjar netted two apiece. Najjar also assisted on three goals. Duke collected one assist. Quinn Butler, Gabe Ortiz and Anthony Delgado each scored one goal.

St. Michael's outshot Santa Fe Waldorf 31-0.

The Horsemen (9-5-1, 6-0 2AAA) have the rest of the week off to prepare for Santa Fe Preparatory.

"That's going to be a huge match," Merritt Brown, St. Michael's head coach, said. "We have a lot of work to do between now and Saturday."

St. Michael's won the first meeting 3-2 at Santa Fe Prep.

Monte del Sol blanks Wildcats

Ricky Fierro scored in the 45th minute and Ryan Keffer recorded 16 saves as the Dragons of Monte del Sol defeated Desert Academy 1-0 Monday afternoon in a District 2A-AAA boys soccer match at the Municipal Recreation Complex.

"I'd give the game to their 'keeper," Rob Lochner, Desert Academy head coach, said. "He played a flawless game. We couldn't find the back of the net and he had some great saves."

Desert Academy outshot Monte del Sol 16-6. Zac Sheppard finished with five saves for the Dragons.

Monte del Sol improves to 5-9 overall, 2-4 in district. Desert Academy dips to
9-2 and 2-2.

Cyclists test positive at Tour

PARIS — Cyclist Leonardo Piepoli twice tested positive for a blood booster during the last Tour de France, officials said Monday, and cyclist Stefan Schumacher's team suspended him for suspected use of the same substance.

The two became the second and third riders to test positive for CERA, an advanced version of the blood booster EPO, during the July Tour. Cyclist Riccardo Ricco has already admitted to CERA use.

The three riders combined to win five of the 21 stages at cycling's premier race, which has struggled to maintain its credibility after being rocked by doping scandals three years in a row.

Several riders previously tested positive during this year's race, which was won by Carlos Sastre.