MIdland College Displays Tenacity in 5 Set Loss to #10 New Mexico Militay Institute
The Midland College volleyball team took the NJCAA Top 10-ranked NMMI Broncos to the limit on Saturday at the Chaparral Center
Midland College Volleyball
Saturday, October 4, 2025
New Mexico Military Institute Broncos vs Midland College Lady Chaps
Midland, TX
The MC volleyball team is proving to be a tough out as they fight their way through the toughest competition in the WJCAC in many years. The WJCAC currently has three teams ranked in the NJCAA's Top 20, including Saturday's opponent the New Mexico Military Institute. NMMI entered the contest ranked #10 nationally.
Saturday's match was a back and forth affair with NMMI taking the first and third sets (25-16, 25-12). Midland College for their part took the second and fourth sets (25-21 and 27-25), forcing the match into a fifth and deciding game. The fifth set was a hotly contested with NMMI jumping out to a lead, but the Lady Chaps maintained their focus to pull even late in the set. When the final ball landed, NMMI took the fifth set by a score of 15-11. The loss dropped Midland College to 10-8 in 2025 and 2-4 in conference.
What doesn't show in the Lady Chaps season record is the progress they have made since the conference slate began. Midland College held their own against #4 ranked Odessa College, #15 Frank Phillips College and today versus the #10 NMMI Broncos. MC's effort on the court gives them an excellent chance to secure a post-season berth. In 2025 the Lady Chaps have played six nationally ranked teams, however the matches have become increasingly more competitive of late. That's a very positive sign for MC and for Coach Kristina Gafford.
Midland College was led by freshman Mia Bell who is a quiet and consistent star for the Lady Chaps. Versus the Broncos, Bell posted 26 assists, 20 digs, four block assists and two kills. Sophomore setter Jordan Eager recorded 25 assists and 12 digs. MC's trio of Martina Frangella, Ipek Kusoglu and Luisina Sandrone contributed 16, 15 and 13 kills respectively. Frangella also recorded six block assists and one solo block.
New Mexico Military Institute vs Midland College match stats:
https://gochaps.com/sports/wvball/2025-26/boxscores/20251004_ajso.xml
Midland College will hit the road for a match at Clarendon College, Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. The Lady Chaps are scheduled to return to the home court for a Saturday, October 11th match with Western Texas College beginning at 2:00 p.m. The WTC vs. MC match is begins the second half of conference for the Lady Chaps.
Go Chaps!