Lady Wolverines, Vixens prepare to defend crowns

CNJ staff photo: Tony Bullocks Senior Brooke Bailey passes the ball to a teammate during Texico volleyball practice on Friday. The Lady Wolverines are preparing to defend the Class 2A state championship they won last November. By Eric Butler: CNJ correspondent The last time a group of athletes like this came through, Texico volleyball coach […]

Vixens top Elida in OT for 3-1A girls tourney crown

By Mickey Winfield: Freedom Newspapers ELIDA — The Fort Sumner Vixens led nearly the entire game Friday night, but needed clutch free-throw shooting to beat Elida 60-58 in overtime in the District 3-1A tournament championship. “Any time you play Elida and a Dan Howard team, and you come out of an Elida gym (with a […]

Fort Sumner earns berth

CNJ staff MELROSE — Kaylynn Johnson and Rachel Chavez scored 10 points each and Fort Sumner beat Melrose when it counted the most — with a state tournament berth on the line. The third-seeded Vixens hit 10-of-14 free throws in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter Wednesday and beat the second-seeded Lady Buffs […]

Lady Buffs, Vixens set to meet again

CNJ staff Fort Sumner and Melrose will get a quick rematch of Friday’s double-overtime thriller, only this time the stakes will be a little higher. Fort Sumner held off Floyd 34-31 while Melrose cruised past Dora 49-15 on Monday in District 3-1A girls tournament openers, each on the winner’s home floor. Wednesday night, the third-seeded […]

Vixens topple Tatum

CNJ Staff Photo: Andy DeLisleFort Sumner’s Bree’Anna Lucero jumps to spike the ball Saturday’s Class 1A state volleyball championship match at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque. The Vixens defeated defending champ Tatum in four games. By Dave Wagner: CNJ sports writer ALBUQUERQUE — With the championship in sight, there was no messing around by Fort Sumner’s […]

Vixens halt Elida’s undefeated streak

Fort Sumner’s Carie Cortese hugs teammate Candace Lyssy after Fort Sumner defeated Elida in three game Friday at the Class 1A state tournament in Albuquerque. (Staff photo: Andy DeLisle) By Dave Wagner: CNJ sports writer ALBUQUERQUE — Fort Sumner climbed one major hill on Friday. Now the Vixens will have to do it again in […]

Vixens slip, but come up big for victory

Fort Sumner’s Justyne McMath spikes the ball over Andrea Rigoni (22) in a 3-1 win over Roy at the state tournament in Albuquerque on Thursday. By Dave Wagner CNJ SPORTS WRITER ALBUQUERQUE — Fort Sumner slipped up a bit in the second game against Roy, but the Vixens were otherwise generally in control in beating […]

Lady Wolverines stymie Vixens in EPAC semis

Fort Sumner senior Amber Sena struggles through two Texico defenders during an EPAC Tournament matchup Friday at Greyhound Arena. (CNJ staff photo: Andrew Chavez) By Dave Wagner: CNJ sports writer PORTALES — Texico girls coach Keith Durham wanted to see a wire-to-wire effort for his team in Friday’s EPAC semifinal matchup with Fort Sumner. The […]

Vixens top Elida in District 3-1A volleyball

By Kevin Wilson: Freedom Newspapers ELIDA — In a game where neither team could take control, it seemed fitting that a setter ended up with the final blow. Fort Sumner made good on its fifth chance at match point, as setter Rita Herrera’s bump took a slow bounce off the net and onto Elida’s side […]

Fort Sumner rolls to 3-1A titles

Melrose freshman Janea Eshleman leads the pack as she nears the finish line in the girls 200 meter heat during the District 3-1A track meet Saturday in Melrose. Eshleman finished first with a time of 27.41 seconds. (Staff photo: John Eisel) By Dave Wagner MELROSE — Fort Sumner’s track teams walked away with boys and […]

Vixens capture Class 1A crown

Fort Sumner’s Tobea Patterson drives the baseline during the first half of the Class 1A championship game Saturday at The Pit in Albuquerque. (CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) By Dave Wagner: Freedom Newspapers ALBUQUERQUE — Things seemed easy at the start for Fort Sumner’s girls. Too easy, actually. Down by 10 points at halftime, the […]

Vixens win 1A crown

By Dave Wagner: Freedom Newspapers ALBUQUERQUE — Things seemed easy at the start for Fort Sumner’s girls. Too easy, actually. Down by 10 points at halftime, the three-time defending Class 1A girls champion Des Moines didn’t go down without a fight. But Fort Sumner held on for a 46-42 victory, avenging its only loss of […]

Vixens hold off Grady in semis

Fort Sumner senior forward Sandy Fortner drives the baseline against Grady senior post Jennifer Blackburn during the Class A semifinal game at Bernalillo High School on Thursday. (Special to the CNJ: Andrew Chavez) CNJ staff ALBUQUERQUE — Fort Sumner’s 16-4 advantage after the first quarter held up and the Vixens advanced to the Class 1A […]

Vixens race into semis

Fort Sumner’s Sandy Fortner brings the ball up the court during the second half of Tuesday’s Class 1A state tourney game against Magdalena. (Staff photo: Eric Kluth) By Eric Butler: CNJ correspondent BERNALILLO —Neither Fort Sumner or Magdalena could have been excited to face a one-loss team in the first round of the state playoffs. […]

Fort Sumner rebounds with easy win

By Eric Butler: CNJ correspondent BERNALILLO —Neither Fort Sumner or Magdalena could have been excited to face a one-loss team in the first round of the state playoffs. But it’s more likely that the Steers will have more lasting regrets after Fort Sumner took a 61-44 win in the quarterfinals of the Class 1A state […]

Wolverines, Vixens capture EPAC titles

Texico freshman Faith Martin (20) tries to get a piece of the ball as Fort Sumner’s Tobea Patterson looks to score. Fort Sumner won its first EPAC title since 1996 by beating the Lady Woverines. (CNJ staff photo: Rick White) By Eric Butler: CNJ correspondent TEXICO — For the first time in EPAC history, Texico […]

EPAC girls: Vixens, Lady Wolverines get top seeds

Junior Sklya Cockerham can’t corral a rebound during the Farwwell Invitational Tournament in December. Cockerham is one of nine upper classman on the roster for the 7-2 Lady Wolverines. CNJ file photo By John Eisel: CNJ Sports Writer Unbeaten Fort Sumner appears to the favorite going into the 29th annual EPAC girls basketball tournament. The […]

Vixens win second title in five years

By Eric Butler: CNJ correspondent ALBUQUERQUE — When the last shot of the Class 1A state volleyball championship went down for a winner it was evident the biggest edge for the Fort Sumner Vixens was experience. At Johnson Gym in Albuquerque, Fort Sumner took the title with a 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 22-25, 15-13 victory over […]

Vixens sweep Bronchos

CNJ Staff ALBUQUERQUE — Fort Sumner ended Grady’s first trip to the 1A state volleyball tournament since 1996 on the first day, sweeping the Lady Bronchos 25-12, 25-16, 25-8 in the quarterfinals Thursday at Del Norte High School. The Vixens (21-3) didn’t lose a game all day, earning the top seed out of Pool A […]

Prep volleyball: Vixens among Class 1A favorites

Sandy Fortner is part of a dominating front line for the Fort Sumner Vixens. (Staff photo: Eric Kluth) By John Eisel: CNJ sports writer Grady and Fort Sumner enter the Class 1A state volleyball tournament from different vantage points. The Vixens have made Albuquerque a second home in November, having gone to the state tournament […]