On Saturday afternoon, No.3 New Mexico Military Institute concluded the 2024 regular season with a 3-0 sweep over Frank Phillips College. With the win, the Broncos end conference play with a perfect 14-0 record and an overall record of 28-2.

Set 1

In the early stages of the first set both teams exchanged points as neither team could take control early on. However, Frank Phillips was able to knot the set at four but from that point on it was all Broncos. Yuliana Favela kick started the Bronco run as she smashed her first kill of the afternoon to give NMMI a 5-4 lead.

As the Broncos found their momentum, they were able to take a commanding 16-8 lead behind a trio of kills by Carola Schnidrig and a pair of service aces by Dilean Bounds - who lead the team with 52 coming into the match. Frank Phillips was able to earn some points back as they were able to score 16 points in the first set. Schnidrig would help close the first set as she earned the Broncos 20th and 22nd point before Sarah Schubert recorded a kill which left the ground shaking to secure the first set 25-16 for the Broncos. 

Set 2

The middle set was much like the first as the Broncos took a commanding lead early and never looked back. With the help of 57 total digs as a team, NMMI was able to hold Frank Phillips to just 13 points in the second set.

The Broncos took a commanding 22-11 lead as Favela recorded one of her six kills of the afternoon. After some great defense by the NMMI backline, the Broncos were able to take the second set 25-13 as Fuka Sekita tallied her 26th ace of the regular season. 

Set 3

Riding momentum from the first two sets, NMMI took an early 2-0 lead as Selin Guler recorded one of her four kills in the afternoon. Frank Phillips was able to tie the game at 3 but the Broncos wouldn't allow the score to get any closer. Schnidrig would add four kills to her total to give the Broncos a 14-7 advantage.

Holding the lead, NMMI was able to end the match on a 11- 8 run as Allison Miller recorded her sixth kill of the afternoon to give the home team a 24-14 lead. To secure the final set, Bailey Sheetz dinked the ball over the net to secure the perfect 14-0 conference record and 3-0 sweep for the Broncos.

Ending the regular season with 22 consecutive wins, Head Coach Shelby Forchtner enjoys the way the team finished the season, "I think we played a better second half then first, we were more consistent in the latter part of the season … you want to get better and better as the year goes on."

With the Region V Championships less than a week away, Forchtner highlighted focus as a key to success next week. "We have to stay focused and be consistent. This team is very level headed and plays with consistency… as long as we stay focused, we're going to be able to play like this in the region tournament," Forchtner said. 

The Broncos return to the court on Thursday, Nov. 7 as they host the Region V Volleyball Championships. Round one will begin on Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Cahoon Armory Gym with the championship match being held on Saturday at 1 p.m.