58 and Counting For Las Cruces
The Las Cruces High School volleyball program has made winning a habit—and the Bulldawgs haven’t forgotten how. Las Cruces is currently riding a remarkable 58-match winning streak, a run that stretches back several seasons. It’s still far from the New Mexico record of 118 consecutive victories, set by West Mesa from 1988-1993, but with success comes expectations. “There’s pressure because a lot of people do want to beat us, and we just have to take care of it on our side,” said senior Lyza Jackson.
For senior Ava Price, however, the spotlight is less of a burden and more of an opportunity. “Maybe there’s pressure, but it’s more exciting than anything,” Price said.
Las Cruces has plenty of reason to feel confident. The Bulldawgs have captured the last three Class 5A state championships and have appeared in the state championship match in each of the last four seasons. Still, the players aren’t looking too far ahead. “I don’t think we focus so much on state,” Price said. “We just focus on one game at a time.”
The ultimate goal, though, is no secret. “That’s our goal, is to win another one,” Jackson said. “We just have to put in the work to get it.”
This year’s challenge will be doing it without one of the state’s most dominant players. The Bulldawgs must replace Addison Massey, the Gatorade New Mexico Volleyball Player of the Year, who is now playing at Kansas State. Replacing Massey’s production won’t be easy. But Jackson believes her departure could also create new opportunities for the rest of the roster. “I feel like it’s going to be difficult because you could just give her the ball,” Jackson said. “But now we are going to be able to use more people and move the ball around a lot more.”
So far, the transition has gotten off to a promising start. Las Cruces opened the season with a 3-1 victory over Franklin, extending a streak that has become one of the most impressive currently in New Mexico high school sports. The next opportunity to keep it alive comes August 21 against Santa Fe. Fifty-eight wins in a row is impressive. But for the Bulldawgs, the next win is the only one that matters.
