Portales brings experience, optimism

PORTALES — With a junior-dominated roster, the Portales Lady Rams reached last year’s Class 4A volleyball state quarterfinals.

Second-year coach Charity Gomez certainly has higher goals for her squad this season. The Lady Rams open at home on Tuesday against Goddard at the Ram Athletic Center.

“We have a really good group of (eight) seniors back,” Gomez said. “Seven of them bring varsity experience. We’re farther along than we were at this time last year.”

The Lady Rams, playing a largely Class 5A-6A schedule as usual outside their district, finished the 2016 campaign at 11-12, including 4-2 for second behind Hope Christian in District 4-4A.

Returnees are led by 6-foot-1 senior middle hitter Lindsay Blakey, who is being recruited by several colleges, including New Mexico State. Among other top returnees include outside hitters Trinity Kizer and Jessie Campbell, setter Sarah Blaeser, libero Zamorye Cox and defensive specialist Alexis Garcia, all seniors.

“We have pretty much the same team as last year,” Blakey said. “Once we get going, I think we’ll be amazing. Most of us have been playing together since we were young.”

Taking on bigger schools every year gives the Lady Rams confidence when they have to face them, Blakey said.

“I feel like we’re better than those teams,” she said. “When we’re ‘on,’ we’ll win.”

Portales was close to having a winning record last season, Gomez noted, but dropped five of seven matches that went to five sets.

“We were right there,” she said. “I would think with our experience, we would be winning some of those (tight matches) this year.”

Blakey said having played with most of the girls who will make up the varsity this season will help a lot.

“We have to work together,” she said. “I feel like everyone can be a leader on the floor. When someone makes a mistake, we have to pick them up.”

One of the keys as far as Gomez is concerned is not letting opponents’ outside hitters go off.

“We’ve bought into the fact that we’re not going to let the ball hit the floor,” she said. “We definitely have high expectations to win the district and get the best possible seed in the state tournament.

“We got tons of experience last year. (The girls) know my system now, and my expectations.”