Prep vollebyall: Romero sets Elkettes into semis against Robertson

Pancho Morris | The New Mexican

9/19/2008 - 9/20/08

The work in progress is equal parts sweat and smiles. It's the remnants of serves and sets, decisiveness and determination, confidence and communication.

Marissa Romero's best days are ahead of her. That doesn't mean the Pojoaque Valley High School junior isn't enjoying the present.

Romero was handed the offense by head coach Brian Ainsworth, who lost three-year starter Jaymie Roybal to graduation.

"It's a work in progress replacing three years of experience," Ainsworth said of the setter position. "But I'm pleased with her progress."

Ainsworth likes Romero's athleticism. He likes her work ethic. He likes her size, which as of a couple days ago is up a half-inch to 5-feet-5. That's why he turned the outside hitter into a setter.

"We've been prepping her since last year," Ainsworth said. "Her athleticism is really, really good. She's able to block and adds a little more defensively for us. But setter is more of a finesse game. Once she understands that, she'll be really good."

Pojoaque Valley is top-ranked in Class AAA. The Elkettes did little to tarnish their reputation Friday at the Tournament of Champions at Santa Fe High School.

The Elkettes finished first in their pool and swept West Las Vegas 25-17, 25-18, 25-24 in a quarterfinal in Toby Roybal Memorial Gymnasium. They are 5-0 in matches and a perfect 15-0 in games, excluding pool play.

Pojoaque faces Las Vegas Robertson in a semifinal at 10 this morning. Robertson staved off stubborn Santa Fe Indian School in its quarterfinal, 25-18, 23-25, 22-25, 26-24, 15-7. Santa Fe Indian School led 21-15 in Game 4.

Pojoaque, Robertson, West Las Vegas and Santa Fe Indian School are from District 2AAA. A fifth member, St. Michael's, fell to Piedra Vista in its quarterfinal.

Piedra Vista swept the Lady Horsemen 25-22, 25-13, 26-24 to earn a place opposite Clovis, which eliminated Santa Fe High, 25-16, 25-16, 25-23, in the final quarterfinal.

"This speaks highly of our district," Ainsworth said of five teams reaching the championship bracket of the 16-team tournament. "We're proud to be part of this district, but we also know there's never a night off."

Try taking a set off?

Romero can't.

It's one reason she was drawn to the position in seventh grade.

"Setting's the hardest thing," Romero said. "There's a lot to work on, but I'm getting there. In every play, the setter makes the decision as to what's going to happen."

Within seconds, Romero must remember which hitter is on at that particular moment, read the court, recognize the block and then set the ball in the best place possible.

"It's a matter of knowing the game and making good decisions," Romero said.

It helps knowing that not only are her teammates along side her, but behind her.

"Miquella (Lovato) helps me make the good decision," Romero said of the junior libero. "She knows the game really good."

As does Ainsworth, the hugely successful head coach who guided the Elkettes to the school's lone state volleyball championship in 2006.

"We had some nice words over lunch," Ainsworth said. "Early in the day, Marissa was not using her athleticism. She did that later on and started to do the things she needed to do."

Romero respects her coach's honesty.

"With Coach Brian, there's always something," Romero said.

With Romero, too.

"I'm never satisfied," she said.

Who is?

Even with Dionna Montoya and Janelle Roybal dominating the net against West Las Vegas, and the defense letting few balls fall, Ainsworth full the dull that needs polishing.

"We're not mentally where we need to be," Ainsworth said. "I pride myself on the mental side and having them mentally ready, so I still have some work to do."

Who doesn't?

St. Michael's didn't look like the team that started the season 4-1. The Lady Horsemen have dropped two straight.

The difference, at least Friday, was at the net.

"When we got blocked, we struggled," Chela Butler, St. Michael's head coach, said. "I thought their block overall was way too strong."

Rachael Beaty and Nell Baird, Piedra Vista's 6-foot-1 bookends, were responsible for the human block party.

The Lady Panthers are more than just all net.

"When their block didn't hurt us, their defense did," Butler said.

Seatha Chavez wore the pain of defeat on her face.

"It's just unfortunate," Chavez, the Santa Fe Indian School head coach, said of the loss, one in which they were four points from victory. "It's tough to swallow."

The Lady Braves aided the Robertson comeback, which started with the Lady Cardinals trailing 21-15 in Game 4.

"You can't miss two serves in a row, not against the team the caliber of Robertson," Chavez said.

The serves had a snowball effect.

On Santa Fe Indian School.

On Robertson.

With the match squared, the Lady Cardinals scored six of the first eight points and seven of the final eight in Game 5.

Julie Franken had six kills in the finale, while Brooke Knezevich had two kills, a block and a roof for points.

"We have a good combination of hitters and they finally got it together," Raynee Trujillo, Robertson head coach, said.

The Lady Braves have their own hitter, LaKesha Padilla, who was one big reason why the Lady Braves were on the threshold of victory.

But in Game 5, Padilla never made the front row, until the score was 8-5 in favor of Robertson.

Would it have mattered?

"We couldn't let go of the mistakes in Game 4," Chavez said. "We need to learn to let them go."

It's called progress.

Most teams and players are still working at it.