Lady Timberwolves Make History, Topple Moriarty in Four-Set Rivalry Thriller

MORIARTY, N.M. — History was made inside a deafening, electric Moriarty High School gymnasium Tuesday night.

After dropping the opening set and facing years of frustration against their Torrance County neighbors, the East Mountain Lady Timberwolves rallied with three straight masterclasses in composure to defeat the Moriarty Lady Pintos 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-23).

The triumph marked the first varsity volleyball victory over Moriarty in East Mountain program history, shattering an 0-6 all-time drought that dated back to their first clash in the spring of 2021.

Moriarty (Class 4A) came out firing in front of an energetic home crowd, leaning on senior leader Lilly Shoemate on the attack and senior defensive anchor Payten Butler in the back row to fend off an early East Mountain surge and capture set one, 25-23.

Despite falling into an early hole in that opening frame, East Mountain head coach Claire Rose chose not to burn a panic timeout — placing her faith squarely in her squad’s grit.

“I feel like this team, they know how to play the game,” Rose said. “They’re small but mighty, and I trust them to figure things out. Sometimes it’s going back to basics, like how do we teach middle schoolers how to pass the ball? Do that. It’s the same at the varsity level. So I trust them to work through some of the yuckiness because that’s what this game is about. You never have a game where it’s smooth sailing the whole way, so we have to practice resiliency.”

That resiliency showed immediately. The Lady Timberwolves flipped the script in the second and third sets, finding offensive rhythm behind junior outside hitter Calla DiMaio and middle Evelyn Salberg. With sophomore libero Henley Hatley locking down the defense and keeping difficult rallies alive, East Mountain took control of both frames by identical 25-18 scores.

When Rose did gather her squad, the directive was clear: control the tempo.

“It’s been sort of our mantra about controlling the pace of the game, and that starts behind the service line,” Rose explained. “It starts about saying we can decide to go fast or slow. They don’t dictate whether we go fast or slow, and so much of that I rely on my setters. They’re my quarterbacks. Part of working through that yuck was them finding how they can control the pace.”

The fourth set delivered all the drama expected of an East Mountain-Moriarty clash. With both student sections trading chants across the hardwood, Moriarty rallied behind the net play of junior Kendall Carpenter and sophomore Genna Romero, refusing to go quietly.

Trailing late, the Pintos clawed within striking distance, but East Mountain maintained poise in crunch time, sealing the historic 25-23 clincher and sending their bench into jubilation.

For Moriarty head coach Michael Baguskis, seeing that level of fire and emotion from both benches was proof of what this regional rivalry brings out in both programs.

“The intensity of the game kind of showed out on both sides tonight,” Baguskis said. “It’s really cool to see the support for both teams from student sections and everything else. You kind of feed into what the energy of the crowd gives you, and you want to give energy to your team just as much.”

Baguskis noted that while the result stung, tough battles against familiar opponents are the crucible that forges postseason contenders.

“We have all the pieces to be one of those contenders for multiple things,” Baguskis added. “We’re very young still. We got our two senior leaders that are doing a great job, but we just have to learn when is the appropriate time to push and not let other people get back into games. And that’s learning.”

Rose echoed that mutual respect, noting how special it was to break the streak in such an intense environment.

“I love playing Moriarty,” Rose said. “I love when they play us in our home gym, but I particularly love playing in this gym because the energy is just very electric. You get fans from both places, and of course Moriarty is always such a good host. But it feels really good to beat them on their home court.”

East Mountain heads home with a landmark victory and area bragging rights, while both squads emerge battle-tested for the district grinds ahead.

Inaugural Alex Carter Memorial Volleyball Tournament

Both programs will quickly pivot from Tuesday’s intense rivalry clash toward a weekend dedicated to something far bigger than the sport itself.

East Mountain and Moriarty are among eight squads traveling to Truth or Consequences this weekend for the inaugural Alex Carter Memorial Volleyball Tournament, hosted by Hot Springs High School on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18–19.

The two-day tournament honors the memory of Alexandria “Alex” Carter, a beloved Hot Springs High graduate whose impact on the Lady Tiger athletic program went well beyond the stat sheet. A standout libero on the varsity squad, Carter was widely remembered as the emotional heartbeat of the team—the fierce, vocal anchor who rallied her teammates when momentum wavered and served as the steady glue in high-pressure moments.

Alex passed away in late September 2024 at just 23 years old, a heartbreaking loss that deeply shook the Sierra County community and everyone who knew her vibrant spirit.

To ensure her enduring legacy remains tied to the game she loved, tournament organizers have established the Alex Carter Most Outstanding Libero Award, dedicated to honoring the player who embodies Carter’s trademark back-row tenacity, court vision, and selfless leadership.

The tournament will open with a touching family tribute, as Carter’s cousin, Jacy Yarbrough, performs the national anthem before the opening bracket round.

Eight programs make up the competitive field: host Hot Springs, East Mountain, Moriarty, Gadsden, Hatch Valley, Quemado, Ruidoso, and Silver City.

Pool play begins Friday at 9 a.m. to determine seeding for the double-elimination championship and consolation brackets. Each team will play three bracket matches, all of which will count toward their official regular-season records and NMAA postseason rankings.

At the conclusion of the event, trophies will be awarded to the first-, second-, and third-place finishers, alongside the consolation bracket champion. The eight participating head coaches will vote on the All-Tournament team selections, Tournament MVP, and the Most Outstanding Libero honor.

Commemorative tournament T-shirts—produced and pre-sold by the Hot Springs volleyball program earlier this summer—will be worn by supporters throughout the weekend as the Lady Tiger gym fills with players, fans, and families celebrating Carter’s life and love for the game.