Lady Rams notch third victory over Texico

PORTALES — Portales High’s volleyball team faced Texico for the fourth and final time this season on Tuesday, with the Lady Rams notching a 25-15, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22 victory at the Ram Athletic Center.

It was their third win over the Class 2A Lady Wolverines. Texico (11-6) has suffered half its losses to Portales, winning in the Lady Rams’ Peyton Chavez Classic on Sept. 25 while losing the home-and-home matches and in a tournament at Moriarty on Sept. 3.

Junior Olivia Low had a season-best 14 kills and five blocks for Class 4A Portales (7-10), while junior Haley Disney added 10 kills. Junior Alondra Acosta notched a team-high 23 digs, while senior Maebri Knox posted a double-double with 12 digs and 29 assists.

“We served really well in the first set,” PHS coach Jackie Bailey said. “That was where a bunch of our aces came.

“It’s always going to be a competitive (match) because we’ve played so much that there are no secrets between us.”

Texico came back to claim Game 2, but the Lady Rams pulled out fairly close wins in the final two sets.

Junior Catelyn Breshears had nine kills for the Lady Wolverines, while senior Emma Wahlen contributed seven kills and two blocks.

Texico, which opened District 4-2A action on Thursday with a win at home over Pecos, has not lost to another 2A squad this season. The team’s other losses have been to Class 4A No. 2 Pojoaque, Class 3A No. 6 Bosque and Class 1A top-ranked Melrose.

“We haven’t lost to bad teams,” first-year Lady Wolverines coach Gabe Jones said. “But there are times when we want to play better than we have.”

Texico was slated to host Clayton on Saturday, then visits Santa Rosa on Thursday in district action. Meantime, the Lady Rams start their District 4-4A slate at Roswell Goddard on Tuesday.

“They’re one of the top two teams in 4A,” Bailey said. “We’ll have to play very well to beat them.”

Rams drop pair in boys soccer — The Rams dropped a pair of district matches this week, losing 6-1 at Lovington on Tuesday night and 4-0 at Roswell Goddard on Thursday.

Portales (4-11, 0-5) will wrap up season with a district match on Thursday at Artesia.