Estrella Flores.

Enough said.

Right, Monte del Sol?

Flores, the Desert Academy junior, carried the Lady Wildcats to a nondistrict victory over Monte del Sol 26-24, 26-24, 25-13 Tuesday night in Genoveva Chavez Community Center.

Flores finished with 27 service points, including eight aces. She also recorded seven kills.

"Our passing is weak and we're still looking for the right combination on the court, but we still have Estrella's strong serving," said Natalie Passalacqua, Desert Academy head coach.

Flores served the Lady Wildcats out of a 19-5 deficit in the second game.

"She was finding the holes," Passalacqua said.

And Desert Academy discovered a block.

Diamar Taylor and Luca Kumde had a block apiece during the rally.

"We've been working with them to become better blockers, and to be a little more aggressive at the net," Passalacqua said. "They're both young, but we think they can become our twin towers."

Tori Heath complemented Flores in the serving department with four aces and nine points.

The Lady Wildcats (2-0) face their stiffest test tonight at New Mexico School for the Deaf. The Lady Roadrunners knocked off Roy, ranked seventh in Class B, last week. First serve is 5 p.m.


The Lady Wolves had a flashback of sorts in a 25-6, 25-14, 25-11 nondistrict loss in Albuquerque.

"Remember how we couldn't handle Estrella Flores' serves in the fifth game against Desert Academy? Well, Evangel Christian served us off the court," Daniel Wendland, Santa Fe Waldorf head coach, said. "Their serve was very effective and we couldn't get anything going."

Kayla Salyer's stats for the Lady Wolves were a modest two aces, two kills, two assists.

"We took a step back tonight," Wendland said. "But we all want to take two steps forward at practice. We're looking forward to getting back to practice and taking care of things."


A stumbling block?

Try a building block.

"This is something that gets us closer to district, closer to state," Diana Ronquillo, Santa Fe Prep head coach, said in the aftermath of a 25-15, 25-21, 25-21 nondistrict loss to the visiting Lady Bobcats.

"We're trying to build something special and I feel like we got better tonight. The girls' poise was always positive and you could see the confidence in their play."

Bosque's progression as a team — and a program — was evident.

"They're really solid," Ronquillo said. "They're at a different stage of the game than we are."

Is the gap closing?

Well, it did in the final two games.

"I'm a competitor, and I hate to lose, but we're playing really sound volleyball," Ronquillo said.

The Blue Griffins try to put another block in place Friday against Desert Academy.