Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TRINIDAD, Colo. – To begin the SOCO Classic, the Dodge City volleyball team split day one, defeating Otero Junior College, 3-1 and falling to Trinidad State Junior College, 3-0.
 
In game one, Rachel Slattery led the Conqs with 14 kills while teammates Jaylen Pegues and Gabriella Valdez led with 16 digs and 26 assists respectively.
 
Both teams traded points in set one until Otero was able to jump out to a 12-7 lead. The Rattlers were able to extend the lead, winning set one, 25-16.
 
In set two, Otero led the entire set, until the Conqs were able to cut the lead to 22-21 before the Rattlers scored two straight points to make it 24-21. Dodge City then scored the next four points to take their first lead of the set 25-24. With the score tied at 28, a hitting error by the Rattlers and a kill by Dodge City gave the Conquistadors the win in set two, 30-28.
 
Dodge City fell behind early in set three, 11-4. The Conqs then scored four straight points, forcing Otero to call a timeout. After the timeout, Dodge City was able to tie the game at 15. The Conqs took a 22-20 lead late in the third set. After letting the Rattlers back into the game, Dodge City finished the set off, winning, 28-26.
 
Dodge City jumped out to an early 15-4 lead in set four. Never looking back, the Conqs cruised to a 25-15 victory in set four, taking the match, 3-1.
 
"We played much better against Otero this round," head coach Kamri Nehls said. "We were scrappy and aggressive. We made quick adjustments to our mistakes. It was a good win to start off this tournament."
 
To begin the second game of the day, Pegues led with nine kills while also collecting 10 digs. Alex Stecklein was able to lead the Conqs with 15 assists, while Gabriella Valdez had a team-high 26 assists.
 
In set one, Dodge City came out a little slow, dropping the first set to Trinidad State, 25-11.
 
The Conqs fell behind late in the second set. Down, 23-19, the Conqs went on a 5-1 run to tie the game at 24 before the Trojans were able to win the set, 26-24.
 
Both teams battled throughout set three, trading points throughout the set with multiple lead changes.  Late in the set, Trinidad State took a 19-17 lead, forcing the Conqs to call a timeout. The Trojans scored the next three points coming out of the timeout to take a 22-17 lead. After the Conqs scored back-to-back points, the Trojans finished the game with back-to-back points to win the set, 25-19 and losing the match, 3-0.
 
"Our passing struggled an that limited our offense," Nehls said. "We just weren't mentally focused this game and Trinidad out hustled us."
 
The Conqs are now 5-5 on the year and will be in action again tomorrow as they take on Cisco College at 10 a.m. (CT) and Lamar Community College at 12 p.m. (CT).