Lady Rams volleyball team posts victory over Carlsbad

CARLSBAD — The Portales Lady Rams completed an impressive opening week on Saturday, posting a 25-22, 18-25, 25-21, 25-20 victory over Carlsbad on Saturday.

Senior Rheagan Courtney had eight kills and four aces to help pace the Lady Rams (3-0), who won at six-time defending Class 2A champion Texico on Tuesday and defeated Clovis High in straight sets on Thursday at the RAC.

“They’re a good team; they’re very athletic,” PHS coach Ruth Chavez said of the Cavegirls (0-2). “They pushed us, and we needed that.

“Our hitters did well today. In the second game, we didn’t get the ball to our middles, but we did better again in the third and fourth games.”

The Lady Rams were slated to host a third District 4-5A team on Tuesday in Hobbs in the first of a home-and-home. Saturday, Portales travels to Hobbs for a 6:30 p.m. clash.

CHS sweeps Dexter — Clovis High’s volleyball squad finished a busy first week on Saturday at 2-2, posting a 25-11, 25-22, 25-21 victory at Dexter.

Senior outside hitter Kameron Kelley saw her first limited action after sustaining a knee injury in preseason, and Lady Cats coach Darrel Ray said it was a positive step.

“She’s still not 100 percent, but she did well,” he said. “The kids trust her and like her, and she’s a good leader for us.”

No individual statistics were available for the match.

CHS was slated to host Roswell Goddard on Tuesday night in what Ray said might be its toughest test so far. On Thursday, the Lady Cats visit Moriarty.

Riess, Arbogast post wins at NMMI — Portales sophomore Michael Riess for the boys and Clovis senior Katarina Arbogast for the girls were individual winners on Saturday in a cross country race hosted by New Mexico Military in Roswell.

Riess ran a time of 16 minutes, 28 seconds over three miles as PHS finished fourth with 51 points in the five-team meet. NMMI had 34 points and won the team championship in a three-way tiebreaker against Cloudcroft and Clovis, with the tie broken by the teams’ No. 5 runners.

Meantime, Arbogast was clocked in 20:05 in the girls’ race. Lady Cats junior Shylee Tree was fifth in 21:17.

CHS coach Liz Ledezma said her squads were a bit shorthanded.

“We had five or six runners out this week for various reasons,” she said. “But I thought both of our teams ran well.”

Gateway Christian took team honors with 26 points to 30 for NMMI and 34 for Clovis, while Portales was fifth with 57 points.

Leading the Lady Rams was freshman Emma Hurren, who placed 11th with a time of 22:51, and sophomore Zoe Ray, 15th in 23:17.

“It’s fun to watch the teams grow,” PHS coach Laura McNeill said. “When you have talent it’s always fun to watch, and we’re looking forward to the rest of the season.”

The Rams and Lady Rams will join their Clovis counterparts again in a 10 a.m. meet hosted by CHS on Saturday at Ned Houk Park. Also scheduled to participate are Goddard and Lovington.

Lady Cats play to tie — Clovis High’s soccer girls opened the season on Saturday and played to a 3-3 tie at Lovington.

Under COVID-related rules, the teams did not go to overtime.

Junior forward/midfielder Nevaeh Coronado posted a hat trick to account for all of Clovis’ scoring in a seesaw match. The Lady Cats trailed 1-0 and 3-2, with Coronado’s third goal tying it again in the 62nd minute.

“We were able to move the ball well and do the things we wanted to see,” CHS girls coach Traci Sievers said. “It just ended up not getting us a win.”

Meantime, the boys match, scheduled for Leon Williams Stadium, was postponed due to eligibility concerns. CHS athletic director Lonnie Baca said on Monday the schools hope to find a place somewhere to make it up.

Both Clovis squads are back in action on Saturday against Socorro in a neutral-site get-together at Ruidoso. The girls play first at noon, with the boys match set for 2 p.m.