Cavegirls Host Centennial in 2025 Inaugural

By Don Eskins

The Cavegirl volleyball team will open 2025 play in the Cavern City on Thursday, August 21, against the always tough Centennial Hawks. The JVs will take the floor first at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity at 6 p.m.

Coach Taylor Hardison, who came to Carlsbad via Hobbs, begins her second year at the head of the CHS program. In 2024, her charges posted a record of 7-15. With just two seniors, six sophomores, and one freshman returning off last year’s squad, plus 2025 eighth-grade newcomer Zoey Salazar, this year’s version of the Cavegirls will be extremely young. Fifty-one girls tried out for this year’s team.

“Although we do have two seniors this year, we have no juniors returning, so overall we’re pretty young. But our girls work hard and are very competitive,” said Hardison. “If we stay healthy and keep working hard, I think our program will have a great opportunity to continue moving forward as the season progresses.

“As I see it, because of our youthfulness,” she said, “we’re making a huge investment for the future.”

The Centennial Hawks will be a tough test for the Cavegirls’ season opener. Last year, they posted a 16-9 record and finished as the Class 5A’s 10th-ranked team. In their only meeting with Carlsbad High (in 2024), they toppled the Cavegirls 3-0.

“We expect the Hawks to be a tough opponent to open up the new season against. Year in and year out, they’re most always a Class 5A Top 10 school,” said Hardison. “Last year, in our season inaugural, they proved to be a pretty decent team once again. In preparing for them this year, we’ve been working hard on our serve receive and serving.

“No doubt, they will be a tough test for us,” said the Cavegirl coach. “But our girls will be ready to play.” Cavegirl 2025 varsity returnees: seniors, Jazmariah Sandoval and Scarlett Heiley; sophomores, Elizabeth Tyndorf, Brinley Brandtly, Macie Stephens, Arianna Garcia, Daisha Nieto, Chloe Lopez, and Josenia Gonzalez; freshman, Abigail Chavez.