Las Cruces High School won the 2023 Class 5A State Volleyball Championship last season. It was their first state title since 2001.
Source: New Mexico Activities Association (Las Cruces Digest Photo)
Story By JP Murrieta
“It was amazing winning,” recalls senior Mercedes Willis. “For losing it the year before to winning, it was a big step up for us and we felt like we accomplished a lot.”
“It definitely built up our confidence and showed we actually can do it,” said junior Addison Massey. “Then it moved over to this year, and we have to do it again.”
Veteran coach Keith Leupold says this year’s group is a confident bunch that could possibly lift the blue trophy again. “I think they know that they have the ability to do so,” said Leupold. “They are one of a number of teams in the state this year that has aspirations to win the blue.”
The Bulldawgs have Addison Massey, arguably the top volleyball player in the state. Massey was named the Gatorade New Mexico Player of the Year last season as a sophomore. “I think she’s playing with even more confidence than she was last year,” said Leupold. “She’s attacking the ball very well, but she’s a goof,” he joked.
“She’s always fired up,” said teammate Sydney Pipkin. “Even in practices, she sometimes says, ‘Oh my gosh, we have to jump on each other.’ She’s just so funny.”
“I just love to have energy, I feel like it helps keep everybody going,” said Massey. “I just want to be somebody they can look to that always has their back and support.”
“Addie is such a spark plug and I love her so much,” Pipkin added. “She gets everyone so excited and helps us get out of the lulls, if we ever get into one, and it helps to have her being able to depend on.”
Addie has been playing volleyball since she was nine. She committed to play volleyball at Kansas State. “She has an elite arm” said Leupold. “Her arm strength is probably her best asset, and she has a great work ethic.”
“I think I’m more mature as a player and I make smarter decisions,” said Massey. “Last year I would get excited and go early or hit into a block, but this year I see everything better and I’m being more mature and waiting longer.”
“I’ve probably had 12-to-15 kids who have played Division One, but I think she is probably the most accomplished,” said Leupold.
“She’s so dynamic, it’s crazy, she can do anything,” said Willis.
“For me, I want to grow as a player and try to be a better leader and as a team I think we all want to win state again and show everyone that we can,” said Massey.
The Bulldawgs won the recent Rio Rancho VolleyBash tournament for the second straight year against some of the top teams in the state and they have yet to lose a match this season. “Tom Landry once said that the job of a coach is to sometimes make players do what they don’t want to do so they can achieve what they always wanted to achieve,” said Leupold. “I’m not a Dallas Cowboys fan but I like that quote.”
See Gatorade News Release HERE.
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