Lady Rams get past Robertson

LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Las Vegas Robertson took Portales High to the limit, but the Lady Rams pulled out a 25-22, 25-18, 16-25, 23-25, 16-14 victory over the Lady Cardinals on Saturday.

Sophomore middle hitter Skyler Massey delivered a personal-best 19 kills to go with three aces while senior outside hitter Audrey Paden posted a double-double with 11 kills and 16 digs for PHS (13-3). Paden also had a team-high five aces.

The Lady Rams appeared on their way to a relatively easy win after taking the first two sets, but Robertson (8-7) made it a tight finish.

“We had to work through it,” Portales coach Bailey Greenwalt said. “They made us come back and get it, so that was good. Definitely, there are things we can learn from it.”

Junior outside hitter Addison Ainsworth added 10 kills for the Lady Rams, while junior Tya Rippee posted a personal-best 19 digs and junior Mariah Velasco added 12 digs and three aces. Junior setter Myleigh Banda had a personal-best 43 assists.

It was just the second five-set match this season for Portales, which lost to Clovis High in five at the Ram Athletic Center on Aug. 31.

Tuesday night, the Lady Rams finished their pre-district slate against Texico at the RAC. They open District 4-4A action at home next Tuesday against Artesia.

NMMI blanks Rams – New Mexico Military, ranked second by MaxPreps in Class 1A-3A boys soccer, scored twice in each half on Saturday and dealt PHS a 4-0 non-district loss at Roswell.

The Colts (11-3) extended their winning streak to six. It was their second win over the Rams (2-9-1) this season – they edged PHS 2-1 in Portales on Sept. 16.

Portales has three matches remaining, all in District 4-4A. They travel to Lovington for a 6 p.m. tilt on Thursday.

Lady Rams third in meet – Portales High’s girls were third out of four teams on Saturday in the Pecos Valley Invitational cross country meet at Roswell.

Hagerman took team honors with 26 points, followed by Roswell High (46), PHS (66) and Mescalero (72).

Sophomore Miriam Caudillo paced the Lady Rams, placing 11th in the field of 28 runners with a 5K time of 25 minutes, 53 seconds. Other finishes for Portales included senior Brittany Johnson, 13th in 27:11; sophomore Rita Garza, 20th in 29:38, and freshman Adrianna Garza, 23rd in 31:49.

The individual winner was eighth-grader Yaritza Caballero of Hagerman in 22:19.

PHS had no entries in the boys’ race, which was won by Roswell High with 36 points to 42 for Hagerman. Coyotes junior Rylan Sarracino was the individual winner in 18:05.

PHS runners finish the regular campaign on Oct. 28 in an invitational at Santa Rosa.