Bosque volleyball making run at title

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Bosque School has taken a different approach to making the New Mexico state high school volleyball championship tournament.

The first step came two years ago when the school hired Scott Grady to be its volleyball coach. Grady used to coach football as an offensive coordinator at Cibola High School.

"I'm a phys-ed major; didn't know much about volleyball," Grady said. "But I had to coach myself up real quick. And I was able to surround myself with some real talented coaches."

Then before this season, Grady hired former University of New Mexico volleyball star Jeannie Fairchild to be one of his assistants.

"I really, really, really have enjoyed being part of this program," said Fairchild, who's been playing professional volleyball in Puerto Rico. "From the moment I got here in June until now, it's been such an adventure."

This "different" approach has the Bobcats in their first-ever state volleyball tournament. The Bobcats will take a 19-2 record into the tournament.

"We've done a good job at creating a new chemistry here at school," Grady said. "And I think you can see it with our accomplishments this season."

Bosque's only losses this season are to Class 5A schools Eldorado and Cibola. Not bad for a smaller Class 2A school.

"This is a lot that this team and this program have been working for, I mean all the years I've been playing," Bosque senior Sierra Smith said. "It would be an honor to win."

"We're making history," added junior Samantha Grady. "Bosque is just so exciting. And yeah, we're excited for the state tournament."

The state volleyball tournament takes place at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho. Pool play begins Thursday with the championships slated for Saturday.