Lady Rams fall short against district powers

PORTALES - It was a tough week for Portales High's volleyball team, but at least the Lady Rams have the satisfaction of knowing they can compete with some of Class 4A's best.

They just didn't have quite enough to get over the top.

Roswell Goddard, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, all but locked up the District 4-4A title on Thursday night with a 27-25, 25-20, 25-21 triumph over PHS at the Ram Athletic Center.

On Tuesday night at the RAC, the Lady Rams led 2-1 in sets before Artesia, the fourth-ranked 4A squad, rallied to claim a 25-13, 22-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-12 district victory.

"We definitely played them better than the last time," Portales coach Jacki Bailey said, referring to a 25-19, 25-22, 25-12 loss to the Lady Rockets (17-4, 4-0 district) in Roswell on Oct. 18. "We battled extremely hard and put ourselves in good positions."

Six-foot-1 senior middle hitter Sophia Valdez, quiet most of the way, registered eight of her team-leading 10 kills in the third set, including seven during a 9-1 surge which turned a 13-11 deficit into a 20-14 lead. She then notched a tip-kill on match point.

"She had a good game," said Goddard coach Dewayne Roberts, a former assistant at Eastern New Mexico University. "We were slow to start, but we really came together as a team. It's always hard to get off the bus and go play."

Goddard scored the first five points of the match, but the Lady Rams (8-13, 1-3) rallied and the teams exchanged the lead several times during the set. Portales held a 21-18 advantage after a Lady Rockets service error, but Goddard scored the final three points on kills by senior outside hitter Alissa Benavides and junior setter Mireya Armendariz and a PHS hitting error.

"We had a few mistakes at the end," Bailey said. "When you're playing a team with that many offensive weapons, we have to limit our mistakes."

Portales scored the first two points in the second set, but the Lady Rockets took the lead for good 6-5 on a Lady Rams attack error and held them off at the end. Then PHS tallied the first four points in the third set and held the lead until an ace by Armendariz tied it 13-13 and Valdez went to work with the first of her late-match kills.

"We really did contain her the first two games," Bailey said. "She got a few free ones (in Game 3), and it fired her up."

Roberts said the young PHS squad stepped up to the challenge.

"They're an athletic team," he said. "They played us pretty tough tonight."

The Lady Rockets have lost only to Class 5A powers Rio Rancho (twice), Cibola and Rio Rancho Cleveland.

"I feel pretty good," Roberts said of his team's position, "but we can't get comfortable. You always have to feel the pressure."

Freshman middle hitter Skyler Massey notched 11 kills and three blocks for the Lady Rams, while senior setter Maebri Knox posted a double-double with 14 digs and 25 assists.

Portales wraps up the regular campaign this week, hosting Lovington on Tuesday and visiting Artesia on Thursday in district action.

Artesia 3, Portales 2 - PHS had the Lady Bulldogs (14-6, 2-1) on the ropes for a while, but couldn't hold them off.

"I was super-proud of our effort," Bailey said. "We showed a lot of fight against one of the top teams in the state. The girls really stepped up to the challenge."

Junior middle hitter Olivia Low had nine kills, while junior outside hitter Audrey Paden and senior outside hitter Emma Long added eight apiece. Knox also posted a double-double in this one, leading six Lady Rams in double-figure kills with 18 while collecting 34 assists.