Lady Rams absorb pair of 3-set losses

ARTESIA – Portales High's volleyball team came into the week ranked No. 4 in Class 4A by MaxPreps.

The Lady Rams had a tall order, though, facing second-ranked Roswell Goddard and No. 1 Artesia in District 4-4A clashes and going down in three sets in both matches, including a 25-22, 25-22, 25-9 decision at Artesia on Thursday.

The two setbacks marked the first time PHS (15-6, 1-3) has been swept all season.

First-year Lady Rams coach Bailey Greenwalt said her squad made some adjustments from the first time it played the Lady Bulldogs (17-3, 4-0 district), and from Tuesday's loss.

"We had the lead early (in each of the first two sets) and they got it late," Greenwalt said of Thursday's tilt. "We just had a hard time putting balls away."

She said it was a bit deflating to be down 2-0 after having played reasonably well.

"That's a lot of it," Greenwalt said. "Part of it is you work so hard and do some good things, and you don't have anything to show for it."

Sophomore middle hitter Skyler Massey had six kills, nine digs, two aces and a block for Portales. Juniors Angel Ornelas and Tya Rippee notched 18 and 12 digs, respectively, while junior setter Myleigh Banda collected 21 assists and five kills.

PHS closes out district and regular-season play this week, hosting Lovington on Tuesday and visiting Goddard on Thursday.

Roswell Goddard 3, Portales 0 (Tuesday) – Greenwalt said her squad simply had "a flat night" as the Lady Rockets (17-4, 3-1 district after beating Lovington on Thursday night), cruised to a 25-9, 25-14, 25-14 victory at the Ram Athletic Center.

Individual stats reflected the team result, with Massey leading in kills with four and in digs with 10 and Banda posting 12 assists. Three players tied with one block, while Banda collected the Lady Rams' lone ace of the contest.

Their 12.3 points per set in Tuesday's match was easily the lowest total of the season for the Lady Rams