Lady Cats rally for five-set win

CLOVIS - For perhaps one of the few times this season, the breaks favored Clovis High's volleyball team, especially late, coach Darrel Ray said.

After a discouraging Game 2 loss which put them in a 2-0 hole, the Lady Wildcats came alive down the stretch and pulled out a 20-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-12 District 4-5A victory over Roswell High on Tuesday night at Rock Staubus Gym.

"We started slowly," Ray said. "We had opportunities in Game 2, but we missed two serves late."

With sophomore Erin Creasy on the service line, the Lady Cats (7-13, 1-2 district) opened a 13-3 lead in Game 2. The Lady Coyotes (6-13, 1-2) pulled ahead late, however, and took a a seemingly commanding lead.

Clovis, though, got command for much of the third and fourth sets to tie it, then overcame an early 5-3 deficit and held off the Lady Coyotes in Game 5.

Ray said his squad was probably a little fortunate at times.

"The ball bounced our way tonight," he said.

Senior outside hitter Cady Ratledge and junior outside hitter Gizelle Petner posted eight kills each for CHS, while senior outside hitter Mili Ratledge had six kills and two blocks. Junior setter Ella Howalt posted 13 digs and 33 assists, and senior libero Hannah Griego notched 22 digs.

The Lady Cats return to district action on Tuesday when they host Carlsbad in a 6:30 p.m. start at The Rock.

Lady Rams fall to Goddard - Portales High's volleyball squad is the No. 3 team in Class 4A. So far, the Lady Rams are having a heck of a time trying to get past No. 2.

That would be Roswell Goddard, which beat PHS in three sets in the finals of the Clovis Invitational earlier this month and repeated the feat on Tuesday, winning 25-20, 26-24, 25-22 at the Ram Athletic Center.

"It was a great volleyball match," first-year Lady Rams coach Jacki Bailey said. "They're the No. 2 team in the state, but I think we've proved we can play with them."

The second set proved to be decisive. PHS (13-5) built a six-point lead before the Lady Rockets (15-3) rallied and pulled it out for a 2-0 lead in sets.

Bailey said her squad kept up the fight the rest of the way.

"I'm proud that we didn't let down in the third set," she said. "We continued to battle."

Senior middle hitter Kylyie Paden had 12 kills, four blocks and four aces for Portales. Senior libero Teagan Faust had 17 digs, while senior setters Riley Shillings and Angelina Maestas combined for 35 set assists and 17 digs.

The Lady Rams had a district home match on Saturday against Lovington. Their next outing is on Tuesday at Artesia.