Lady Rockets post third win over PHS

ROSWELL — Portales High’s volleyball team hasn’t been able to beat Roswell Goddard yet in three meetings this season, but first-year coach Jacki Bailey thinks the Lady Rams are getting closer.

PHS earned its first set win against Goddard on Saturday, but in the end the Lady Rockets were too much in posting a hard-fought 22-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19 District 4-4A victory.

Goddard (17-4, 3-1 district) had to work hard to nail down the win.

“We’ve been better each time we’ve played them,” Bailey said. “We know we’re capable of betting them. We just have to put a whole match together.

“We did a lot of good things, but there are still things we need to do better against teams like this.”

Senior middle hitter Kylyie Paden collected 25 kills and nine digs for the Lady Rams, while senior outside hitter Adrianna Garcia added 15 kills.

Senior libero Teagan Faust posted 30 digs, while senior setter Riley Shillings had 31 assists and seven aces and senior setter Angelina Maestas notched 23 assists and eight digs.

With two matches left this week, Goddard and Artesia share the district lead, with Portales a game behind. The Lady Rams played at last-place Lovington on Tuesday night, then close the regular season on Saturday in a 2 p.m. tilt against Artesia at the Ram Athletic Center.

“Our district is just so competitive,” Bailey said. “Every night we have to go out and play our best.”