Aztecs Volleyball opens 2024 season going 1-3 at NMMI Classic

The Pima Community College volleyball team opened the 2024 season on Friday and Saturday as part of the New Mexico Military Classic in Roswell, NM.
     The Aztecs played four games; all against NJCAA Division I teams. Three of those teams were nationally ranked in the Division I poll.

SATURDAY

• Pima CC Aztecs 3, (13) College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles 1 (16-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-23): The Aztecs rallied off three straight wins after dropping the first set.
  The Aztecs trailed 14-12 in the third set but they scored eight straight points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
  There were eight lead changes and 13 ties in the fourth set. With the score tied at 23-23, the Aztecs scored the final two points to win the match.  
• Tyler Junior College Apaches 3, Pima CC Aztecs 0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-16): The Aztecs trailed 18-10 in the second set but scored nine of the next 11 points to cut the deficit to one-point at 20-19. Down 23-20, Pima scored four straight points to take a 24-23 advantage, but the Apaches closed out the match claiming the final three points.
  The Aztecs fell behind 11-3 early in the third set but cut it to three-points after scoring six of the next seven points to make it 12-9. That's as close as they would get.

FRIDAY

• (8) Odessa College Wranglers 3, Pima CC Aztecs 0 (25-10, 25-16, 25-19): The Aztecs opened the 2024 season with a straight-set loss to the Wranglers.
• (12) New Mexico Military Institute Broncos 3, Pima CC Aztecs 0 (25-18, 26-24, 25-22): With the score tied 16-16 in the first set, the Broncos scored nine of the last 11 points to take the lead in the match.
  The second set featured 12 ties. The Aztecs led 21-19, but the Broncos tied the score at 21-21. The teams were tied again at 24-24 but the Aztecs surrendered the final two points of the set and found themselves down 2-0 in the match.
  The Aztecs trailed 17-11 but scored eight of the next 11 points to take a 20-19 lead. The Broncos scored the next four points to close it out.

The Aztecs will open ACCAC conference play and host their first match of the season at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium against Glendale Community College. First volley is set for 7:00 p.m.