Carlsbad’s volleyball season came to an end following a loss to Hobbs on March 26. Bill Niemeier was named the new Cavegirls head coach less than a month before the season began, making an already unusual season even more difficult.
The Cavegirls didn’t have much time to bond, yet finished the season with more wins in fewer games than the 2019 team. Carlsbad finished the season with a 3-9 record and a 1-5 district record. In 2019 the Cavegirls went 2-17.
All 12 varsity players contributed throughout the season. Here’s who lead the team and how everyone finished the season.
Team Leaders
Gracie Eckles
Eckles may only be a sophomore but she’s established herself as one of the leaders of the team. The co-captain played in 40 of Carlsbad’s 41 sets and led the Cavegirls in kills (154), digs (102) and shared the team high service aces (27) with senior co-captain Harmony Lopez. She was second in assists (54), third in serves received (98) and fourth in blocked shots (15).
Harmony Lopez
The senior co-captain was known for her assists. Out of the 271 team assists Lopez had nearly 71 percent of them to finish the season with 192. Like co-captain Gracie Eckles, Lopez also played in 40 of the team’s 41 sets and recorded 27 service aces. Lopez was fourth in digs (46), fifth in service returns (34) and had nine blocks. Lopez will continue her volleyball career at Regis College next year.
More:Carlsbad’s Harmony Lopez signs with Regis College for volleyball
Aubryanna Leos
Leos played in 38 of Carlsbad’s 41 sets. The senior co-captain led the team with 254 serving receptions and was second on the team in kills (78), total blocks (22) and digs (91). Leos was fourth in both serving aces (13) and assists.
China Ojiaku
The freshman spent the majority of her time on the court in front of the net. Ojiaku led the Cavegirls with 37 total blocks, more than half of the team’s 73 blocks. Ojiaku finished the season with 11 kills, four digs, two assists and one service return.
Rest of the team
Annika Sowers
- 40 sets: 181 service returns, 85 digs, 14 service aces,
Morgan Boatwright
- 37 sets: 24 kills, 16 blocks, 6 digs, 5 service receptions, 2 assists
Kailyn Hestand
- 33 sets: 21 returns, 17 kills, 10 blocks, 7 service aces, 7 digs, 2 assists
Brynlee Daughtry
- 26 sets: 17 kills, 14 service returns, 13 assists, 8 digs, 3 blocks
Carly Younger
- 14 sets: 9 blocks, 8 kills, 6 digs, 4 service receptions, 3 service aces
Ashlynn Palma
- 12 sets: 41 service receptions, 17 digs, 4 service aces
Izzy Kostenbader
- 8 sets: 14 service receptions, 7 digs, 4 kills, 1 service ace
Arika Cordova
- 6 sets: 17 service receptions, 2 digs
Matthew Asher can be reached at 575-628-5524, masher@currentargus.com or @Caveman_Masher on Twitter.
