Kirtland Central Volleyball Ends Season, Best Record in Nearly Two Decades

Kirtland Central's 2025 volleyball season ended Sunday in Rio Rancho when the Broncos fell to Portales in a third round consolation match at the NMAA state tournament. The loss closed a season in which the Broncos compiled a 19-6 record, the most victories for the program in nearly 20 years, and underscored both the highs and limits of a deep postseason run.

The Broncos reached the state tournament after advancing past the Desert Warriors earlier in the event with a 3-2 win, and they progressed to the second round of the championship bracket before being matched against top seeded St. Pius. In the state tournament match against St. Pius, Kirtland Central lost in straight sets, 25-8, 25-9, 25-12. In the consolation bracket, Portales ended Kirtland Central's season with set scores of 25-19, 25-23, 25-16.

Coach Nadia Begay Watson led the squad through district competition and into the state field, producing a season total that has not been seen in the program since 2007. The 19-6 record provides a clear statistic showing improvement on the court and serves as a benchmark for the program as it evaluates roster turnover, development of younger players, and coaching continuity going into the offseason.

For San Juan County residents the result carries multiple implications. Athletic success on the state stage can boost local interest in youth participation, which in turn affects demand for coaching, facilities and local tournaments. Hosting or traveling to state events can also generate modest economic activity when families and supporters patronize nearby restaurants and businesses. While Kirtland Central's season did not culminate in a state title, the program's performance is likely to reinforce community support and could influence district discussions about investments in athletic programs and youth sports infrastructure.

From a program perspective the Broncos leave the 2025 season with concrete data points to guide planning. A 19 win season establishes recent performance expectations, while the lopsided loss to the tournament's top seed highlights areas for development in competitive depth and match by match execution. The experience of close postseason sets also gives returning players a higher level of competition to reference as they train this winter and spring.

The season closed on November 16, 2025 in Rio Rancho, and while the scoreboard showed a loss, the broader indicators point to an upswing for Kirtland Central volleyball and sustained community engagement with high school athletics in San Juan County.