In case you haven't noticed, the Tatum volleyball team has had an impressive last few days.
The two-time defending state champ and top-ranked Class 1A Lady Coyotes went to Roswell for the Zia Classic this past weekend, and as the only program in attendance under Class 3A, won the event. The tournament included teams such as Carlsbad, Clovis, Roswell, Goddard and more, eventually beating Lubbock Christian in the finals.
Three days later on Tuesday, Tatum beat five-time defending state champ and top-ranked Class 2A Texico in five games – marking the first time in several years the Lady Coyotes have upended the Lady Wolverines.
Tatum (4-2) appears to be gaining steam after being swept by 5A Clovis and losing to Texico in five games earlier this season. With junior Devanne Sours and senior Monica Ramirez at the net to go along good athletes in the back row such as Karina Cardenas, the Lady Coyotes are a tough matchup for anybody at any level. I wasn't at Tuesday's match (News-Sun sportswriter Brad Cox was there) but I'm excited to get a chance to cover them later in the year.
On a sad note, it's been confirmed that Lovington graduate and Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher's mother, Lavoyda Lenard, died Monday. I know some of you may have known her and my thoughts go out to you and Urlacher's family.
Losing a mother is never easy. I lost my own mother almost two years ago to cancer and she would've turned 51 today (Sept. 14). People grieve differently so I hope people are sensitive to Urlacher and let him take the time he needs. Nobody should tell anybody else how to react to one's mother passing.
Never.
