La Cueva volleyball ready for shot at three-peat
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (BVM) — La Cueva High School has lost only one match while claiming back-to-back Class 5A volleyball state titles over the past two years. The Bears are also bringing back many of the same players who played key roles in last year’s championship run, including three all-state selections.
It’s no wonder why head coach Steve Archibeque was eager to get back to work this summer.
“I was really excited about this season,” Archibeque said. “I just want it to start.”
But like numerous other high school teams around the country, La Cueva has to be extra patient this year. The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) released an amended calendar for the 2020-21 academic year in mid-July, moving the start of volleyball season to Oct. 5. Archibeque was able to run four weeks of voluntary workouts with his talented squad before they had to be put on hold in order to follow new state guidelines for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
No workouts can take place until New Mexico schools enter hybrid mode when classes will be held both online and on campus, possibly after Labor Day. At that time, the Bears hope to be able to resume preparations for a season that could end in a state title three-peat.
“I think this team has the potential to win a state championship again,” Archibeque said. “We just have a lot back and a lot of the same tools back.”
La Cueva graduated Gatorade New Mexico Player of the Year Mariana Sharp, a dominant outside hitter who’s now a freshman at New Mexico State, but the Bears return with loads of firepower and experience, including first team all-state outside hitter Sidney McIntosh, a rising senior who’s also committed to the Aggies. McIntosh led La Cueva with 323 kills last season and she’s as ready as anyone to be done playing the waiting game.
“I’m anxious but then grateful at the same time,” McIntosh said. “It could be no volleyball at all. Sometimes I take for granted volleyball and so now since this whole disaster has happened it’s like, ‘Dang, I really miss volleyball,’ so I’m definitely anxious to get back on the court and play a game.”
Along with McIntosh, the Bears will also bring back first team all-state setter Erin Jones, a junior who had 808 assists and was third on the team in total blocks (53) and aces (26) last season, and second team all-state libero Angelyse Gonzales-Sanchez, a senior who recorded a team-best 260 digs. La Cueva also returns senior middle blocker Lindsay Eckelman, who was last year’s team leader in total blocks (76), senior outside hitter Maalese Wallace, a consistent attacker who was third on the team in kills (190) and steady defensive specialist Jenna Sandoval, a junior who was second on the team in service aces (35) and third in digs (178).
“It’s very exciting to know that we didn’t lose that much and we still have a lot of the team left,” McIntosh said.
The Bears’ excitement is warranted and Archibeque remains cautiously optimistic that the season will officially start in October as planned, but he’s also wary of potential further delays which could have a significant impact on his team.
“We’re on a very tight rope that if anything happens with this pandemic, we’re going to get moved to February,” Archibeque said. “We don’t want that as volleyball coaches because that will run straight into club season and 90% of my team plays club. … Both the club sport and the association would have to make some sort of concessions to allow them to play both club and high school, otherwise, they’re gonna have to make a choice.”
The hope is that such a choice won’t be necessary. The NMAA’s new plan remains intact for now, and all La Cueva can do is wait and be ready for what they hope will be another chance to build on their back-to-back state championship seasons.
“I’m definitely really anxious to see what happens and if we’re going to be able to play,” McIntosh. “Now it’s like you count your blessings because who would’ve thought this would all happen and volleyball would come to an end at some point.”
