Unbeaten Goddard outlasts Lady Rams

Unbeaten Roswell Goddard held off a late rally by the Lady Rams to take a 25-16, 33-31, 23-25, 25-21 victory Tuesday night at the PHS gym.

The Lady Rams rallied in the third game to stay alive before Goddard (13-0) closed it out.

Portales coach Ruth Chavez said her team played well against a quality oppopnent.

“It was a good (match) for us,” Chavez said. “”After you’ve lost the first two, it’s tough to come back. We battled and almost got them in the fourth.”

The Lady Rams (6-5), who pushed Goddard to five games earlier this season in Roswell, threatened to make it just as interesting this time.

Leading 2-0, the Lady Rockets went on an 8-0 run to open a 17-13 margin in the third game, but a block by Portales’ Jenna Wagner helped spark a five-point surge that sent the Lady Rams back in front.

A kill by Carrie Burrow put the Lady Rockets ahead 20-19 and the match continuted to seesaw. An attack error by the Lady Rockets gave Portales game point at 32-31, and senior LeAnne Blaeser served out the game to make it 2-1.

In the fourth game, Portales was unable to climb all the wayback after being down 16-9 at one point.

Lady Rockets coach Sheri Gibson said Portales usually gives her squad all it wants.

“Portales is tough,” she said. “We just had to be tougher.”

Portales travels to Artesia on Thursday before opening its District 4-3A schedule next Tuesday at Dexter.