Businesslike style carries Lady Cats

THE CLOVIS LADY WILDCATS approached Tuesday’s District 4-5A volleyball opener at Hobbs in a businesslike manner, according to coach Darrel Ray.

The Lady Cats rode 13 blocks and 10 kills from senior middle hitter Monique Walker to a 25-21, 25-19, 25-19 win over the Lady Eagles.

“Probably 10 of (Walker’s blocks) were ‘stuff’ blocks,” Ray said Wednesday. “I’ve never seen a kid do that. I know she thoroughly frustrated (Hobbs’) middle hitter.”

While his team didn’t totally dominate the match, Ray admitted the Lady Cats (11-1) were already gearing up for Saturday’s 11 a.m. showdown with defending district champion and Class 5A state runner-up Eldorado at Rock Staubus Gym.

“We were happy to get that win and get a road game behind us,” he said. “I told the girls (before the match), ‘We’ve got to do a workmanlike job and continue to prepare for what is a big, huge match.’”

The Lady Cats struggled for a time in the second game, but erased a six-point deficit with a game-ending 13-1 charge that was sparked by junior Roxanne Luera.

“Roxy served really well,” Ray said. “She was on the (service) line in that 13-1 run.”

Ray conceded it would have been a letdown to have lost the match “because right away you would negate what you’re trying to do.”

Still, he gave the Lady Eagles credit for putting up a battle.

“I think Hobbs has improved quite a bit,” Ray said. “They’re young, but (Lady Eagles coach) Brenda (Wilson) has done a great job with them over the last four weeks.”

DESPITE AN 8-2 START, longtime Texico volleyball coach Mike Littlejohn thinks injuries have kept the Lady Spikers from reaching their potential.

“We’re just trying to get everybody healthy,” Littlejohn said after Tuesday’s four-game win at Melrose. “It’s kind of trying right now, but we played really hard tonight.”

Texico has been without sophomore middle blocker Erika Autrey (ankle) for about a week, and Littlejohn said she’s doubtful for today’s District 6-2A opener against Santa Rosa at Texico Sports Arena. Senior Sissy Loper, who went from middle blocker to setter this season, has moved back to the middle to fill in for Autrey with junior Seneca Turner manning the setter’s role.

Also hobbling but playing are junior outside hitter Ashley Kidd (back) and sophomore outside hitter Lori Richardson (strained arch).

Winning tonight’s match is important for the Lady Spikers, who face a major road date on Tuesday against Estancia. Littlejohn thinks they’ll have to beat out the Lady Bears to win the district title.

“Estancia’s definitely the best one out there,” he said. “Santa Rosa’s down a little bit. They’ve lost once or twice to Fort Sumner — but then everybody’s been losing to Fort Sumner.”