Hobbs sweeps to victory over Lady Cats

HOBBS – With one more win, Clovis High’s volleyball team would have been positioned for a chance to at least share the District 4-5A title.

That bid ended quickly on Thursday night, though, as Hobbs ran away with the first set en route to a 25-4, 25-21, 25-18 victory over the Lady Wildcats.

Roswell High (20-1, 5-0 district) clinched the title on Thursday with a 25-15, 25-14, 25-16 triumph over Carlsbad (7-14, 0-5). Clovis(10-11, 3-2) can still clinch sole possession of second place next Thursday with a win over the Lady Coyotes at Rock Staubus Gym, but the team’s chances for a Class 5A state berth took a major hit against the Lady Eagles (11-10, 2-3).

Clovis, which beat Hobbs in four games in the first meeting at The Rock, led at times early and played better over the final two games, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

“When we did (connect) a pass, they’d call (senior outside hitter) Ashlynn (Evans) for lifts,” CHS coach Cristy Hill said. "For us, it was just mistake, mistake, mistake, mistake.”

“It was their Senior Night, and they wanted revenge for the first (matchup). The whole night, we were riddled with mistakes. We either were playing defense or sending them free balls.”

Evans finished the night with 10 kills, but the rest of the team had only six, Hill said. Senior libero Jecenia Jimenez notched 15 digs, while senior setter Amanda De La Rosa posted a team-best two aces to go with 15 assists.

Clovis 3, Carlsbad 2 (Tuesday) – At Carlsbad, the Lady Cats pulled out their second five-set district win over the Cavegirls, dominating the first set but needing to come from behind late in a 25-15, 13-25, 16-25, 25-21, 17-15 victory.

Evans compiled 22 kills, six digs and four aces for CHS. She had a block on match point as Clovis rallied from a 15-14 deficit to pull it out.

Game 4 was tied 21-21 before the Lady Cats pulled away with the final four tallies.

“They could’ve given up pretty easy, and they didn’t,” Hill said of her contingent. “(But) we missed a lot of serves tonight. We didn’t pass very good in Games 2 and 3, and when we did we didn’t hit.”

Jimenez collected 13 digs and senior defensive specialist Jori Mondragon added 10, while De La Rosa contributed four aces and 35 assists.