Lady Cats Claw Their Way to Mountain Top Glory as Area Teams Battle in Weekend Volleyball Showdowns

 The altitude wasn’t the only thing rising at the Mountain Top Tournament this weekend—so was the intensity. With teams from across southern New Mexico converging in Cloudcroft, the hardwood action delivered drama, dominance, and a few heartbreaks. From Tularosa’s title run to Cloudcroft’s rollercoaster finish, and Mescalero Apache’s continued fight for growth, the weekend was a showcase of grit and game.

Tularosa Roars to Tournament Title

The Lady Cats of Tularosa came into the Mountain Top Tournament with a mission—and left with a trophy. After dispatching Animas in straight sets (25-18, 25-23, 25-18) to open the weekend, Tularosa capped their run with a commanding sweep of Hatch Valley (25-20, 25-22, 25-18) in the championship match.

Senior standouts Emma Ostic and Gabby Salas earned all-tournament honors, anchoring a squad that now sits at 7-1 on the season. Their next test comes Tuesday on the road against Estancia.

 Cloudcroft Battles, Falls in Consolation Final

The Lady Bears of Cloudcroft opened strong, sweeping Animas (25-18, 25-22, 25-14) to earn a spot in the consolation bracket championship. But Lordsburg proved too much, edging Cloudcroft in three tight sets (25-18, 26-24, 25-17).

Despite the loss, Cloudcroft showed flashes of brilliance and now holds a 4-4 record. They’ll look to bounce back Thursday at Hagerman.

Jal Jolts Cloudcroft, Prepares for Tularosa

Jal made waves early in the tournament, sweeping Cloudcroft (25-16, 25-21, 25-21) with a balanced attack and sharp serving. The Lady Panthers advanced to face Tularosa in Saturday’s second match—a clash that ultimately crowned the Lady Cats as champions.

Mescalero Apache Struggles to Find Rhythm

It was a tough weekend for the Lady Chiefs, who dropped two straight-set matches to Alamo Navajo. Now 0-8 on the season, Mescalero Apache continues to search for momentum and will travel to Gateway Christian on Tuesday for another shot at redemption.

Alamogordo Splits at Zia Classic

Meanwhile, at the Zia Classic in Roswell, the Lady Tigers of Alamogordo went 1-1 in tournament play. After a hard-fought five-set loss to Clovis, Alamo bounced back with a clean sweep of Lovington.

Now 4-3 on the season, the Lady Tigers return home Tuesday to host Roswell in what promises to be a high-energy matchup.

From championship sweeps to consolation heartbreaks, the weekend proved that southern New Mexico volleyball is anything but predictable. With rising stars, seasoned leaders, and plenty of matches ahead, the season is just heating up. Stay tuned to AlamogordoTownNews.org as these teams are far from finished.

More News from Alamogordo

• Alamogordo Soccer Faces Highs and Lows as Season Heats Up In soccer with district play looming Alamogordo squads are entering a critical stretch.
• Area Runners Shine at Ruidoso Invitational Cross Country Meet XC regional roundup by Chris Edwards
  September 14, 2025 - Ruidoso, NM