Lady Rams bow out against West Las Vegas

ALBUQUERQUE — The Portales High volleyball team had all hands on deck and gave it a good shot, but the Lady Rams fell short against West Las Vegas in Friday’s Class 3A state tournament semifinals.

West Las Vegas got off to a fast start and held on in the second and third games for a 25-16, 25-23, 25-23 victory over PHS at Manzano High School.

Portales’ District 4-3A rival, Ruidoso, captured the championship on Saturday by posting a 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 15-13 win over West Las Vegas (21-3) at the University of New Mexico’s Johnson Gym. Ruidoso (20-3) edged St. Michael’s 25-18, 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-10 in Friday’s second semifinal match.

Portales, the defending 3A state champion and winner of three of the previous four titles, advanced past Thursday’s quarterfinal round with a five-game win over Shiprock despite playing without three players due to food poisoning. In addition, junior middle hitter Morgan Hill was slowed by an ankle injury sustained during Thursday morning’s pool play.

Juniors Megan Kabrick and Michaela Alexander and freshman Whitney Miller did not play at all on Thursday due to food poisoning — something they ate before the team left for Albuquerque on Wednesday, Lady Rams coach Ruth Chavez said. Meantime, junior middle hitter Morgan Hill was injured in the first of six pool games that day and did not return until the quarterfinal match.

Chavez said all contributed against the Lady Dons despite probably not being at their best.

“We played well,” she said. “We had a good tournament.”

Chavez said her team had a chances on Saturday, but couldn’t come up with some key points in the second and third games.

“We had an opportunity in Game 3, but we had a call that didn’t go our way,” she said. “They’re a good team, but we really played well. It was a good team effort.”

State prep tournaments

he Associated Press

At Albuquerque

Saturday’s finals

Class 5A

Mayfield def. Rio Rancho 26-24, 18-25, 30-28, 25-15

Class 4A

Deming def. Moriarty 25-15, 25-23, 25-20

Class 3A

Ruidoso def. West Las Vegas 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 15-25, 15-13

Class 2A

Sandia Prep def. Hatch Valley 27-25, 25-21, 28-26

Class 1A

Fort Sumner def. Tatum 25-16, 25-20, 18-25, 22-25, 15-13

Friday’s semifinals

Class 1A

Fort Sumner def. Des Moines 25-17, 25-22, 25-15

Tatum def. Jal 26-24, 27-25, 25-13

Class 2A

Hatch Valley def. Ramah 25-15, 25-21, 25-22

Sandia Prep def. Estancia 25-17, 25-14, 25-12

Class 3A

Ruidoso def. St. Michael’s 25-18, 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-10

West Las Vegas def. Portales 25-16, 25-23, 25-23

Class 4A

Deming def. St. Pius 25-19, 25-19, 25-22

Moriarty def. Goddard 25-13, 25-10, 25-13

Class 5A

Mayfield def. Cibola 27-25, 13-25, 9-25, 26-24, 15-12

Rio Rancho def. Las Cruces 22-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-22