Lady Rams top Robertson, improve to 3-0

So far, so good for the Portales High volleyball team.

The Lady Rams improved to 3-0 for the young season on Saturday at the Ram Athletic Center with a solid 25-20, 25-18, 25-12 victory over Las Vegas Robertson, which also came in having won its first two matches.

“We started a little slow, but we gained confidence with each set,” PHS coach Bailey Greenwalt said. “It was a good match.

“There are still some kinks, but we’re playing scrappy. It’s going to be fun to see this team when we find our roles.”

Senior outside hitter Addison Ainsworth and junior middle hitter Skyler Massey had 10 kills apiece for Portales, with Massey adding seven digs and seven aces. Meantime, senior setter Myleigh Banda had 29 assists and a team-high four blocks, and senior defensive specialist Tya Ripper contributed four kills and a team-high 14 digs.

“Skyler had a good all-around match, and Tya had a good match,” Greenwalt said. “It’s not perfect; we still have a ways to go, but it’s nice to see some of the things we’re doing.”

Senor Angel Ornelas added 12 digs for the Lady Rams, while senior Erin Van Leuven chipped in four kills.

Portales returns to action this weekend in the Moriarty Invitational, with pool play and first-round bracket matches set for Friday and the final three rounds on Saturday.

Boys soccer – The Rams continued to make early strides, winning two of their three matches over the weekend in a five-team event hosted by Taos.

On Friday, PHS (3-1) notched a 3-0 victory over Bloomfield. Then on Saturday, the Rams were blanked by host Taos 2-0 before coming back to blank St. Michael’s 3-0.

“Against Taos, we just couldn’t get anything going,” Rams coach Dustin Harden said. “I think they’re playing like we should play. I can’t be more proud of them.”

In the win over Bloomfield (1-4), senior forward Allister McCasland and senior forward/midfielder Gabriel Duran scored first-half goals, assisted respectively by junior forward/midfielder Adrian Jaquez and senior forward Uziel Jacovo. The Rams’ second-half tally came from senior forward Tony Cordova.

PHS did all its damage in the first half against the Horsemen (1-4) as Cordova notched a hat trick. Duran and senior forward Elijah Tellez had assists.

Junior goalkeeper Ethan Najera had 11 saves in the two wins, including nine against St. Mike’s.

In the loss to Taos, the Tigers (4-2) got goals from juniors Joaquin Rose in the first half and Mateo Carmona early in the second.

PHS boys and girls squads are in action today with a doubleheader at West Las Vegas. The girls travel to Hatch Valley for a tournament this weekend.