The records indicated Tuesday's District 2AAA volleyball tournament match was a win-or-go-home proposition.

Just don't tell that to Brian Gurule or Seatha Chavez.

"I'm sorry, but I believe all six teams (in 2AAA) deserve to go to state," said Gurule, the head coach at West Las Vegas after his sixth-seeded Lady Dons pulled out an emotional 24-26, 25-23, 26-24, 25-20 opening-round win over No. 5 Santa Fe Indian School at Francis L. Abeyta Memorial Gymnasium.

"We are the strongest district from top to bottom. I say bring any team over here and let's see how they handle all of us."

His counterpart, Lady Braves head coach Seatha Chavez, feels the entire district should be invited to play in the 12-team Class AAA State Tournament, which takes five district champions and seven at-large teams.

"There were some tears shed when we talked afterward (Tuesday night), but we're still practicing all week with hope," said Chavez, whose Lady Braves fell to 9-12. "This was a district that had all six teams ranked in the Top 10 (by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association). Each team is good enough to play in state."

West Las Vegas senior middle hitter Linda Esquibel suggested an easier way to address the state tournament issue.

"We don't want the selection committee to have a say in it," said Esquibel, who had 10 kills. "Last year, we left it in the hands of the selection committee and they didn't take us. The best thing we can do now is just keep winning."

The match had a state tournament feel. The host Lady Braves rode a combined five kills from juniors Melodie Cruz and LaKesha Padilla to a win in Game 1, which had five scoring runs of five or more points as the teams traded momentum throughout.

It appeared the Lady Braves would run their visitors right out of the gym in Game 2, jumping out to a 16-6 lead before persistent complaints by the Lady Dons about the game balls being underinflated prompted a halt in the action.

The added air in the ball took the air out of the SFIS sail. West Las Vegas (7-14) went on a 10-2 run to pull within 18-16, powered by outside hitter Vanessa Lucero, who had 10 kills.

The Lady Braves then saw a 22-17 lead turn to a 25-23 West Las Vegas win thanks to three kills and a pair of strong blocks from Esquibel.

"I think we're just really coming together right now and playing as a team," Esquibel said.

Things got heated at the end of Game 3. A Padilla kill seemed to give the Lady Braves a 25-23 win.

Instead, after Chavez was already at the scorer's table giving her lineup for Game 4, the head official ruled Padilla had run into the net, awarding the point to the Lady Dons, who went on to score the next two points for a 26-24 win.

"I really think there were several calls that didn't go our way," Chavez said. "There were too many questionable calls."

Chavez was given a yellow card for Game 4 after a shouting match with the officials. The ploy seemed to fire up her squad as SFIS jumped out to an 8-0 lead.

The Lady Dons, however, never lost composure and rallied for the 25-20 match-clinching win and a chance to play No. 4 Raton tonight.

"Regardless of the officiating," Chavez added, "We need to be good enough to overcome bad calls and tonight. We weren't."

Contact Geoff Grammer at 986-3060 or ggrammer@sfnewmexican.com.