One fact is clear after the Portales volleyball district finale at Ruidoso Saturday afternoon — the road to the District 4-3A championship runs up the mountains and through Ruidoso High School.

The Lady Warriors seem to have Portales’ number, sweeping the defending Class 3A state champion Lady Rams for the second consecutive time Saturday; 25-12, 25-14 and 25-18.

Ruidoso also swept Portales in their October 21 meeting at Portales High School.

Lady Ram head coach Ruth Chavez said the Portales girls were simply out-played by a team she considers to be New Mexico’s best in Class 3A.
“We just played bad. We didn’t have a good night,” Chavez said. “We didn’t even play well.”

Chavez also said her team looked ready before Saturday’s district finale.

“I thought we were ready. But we just struggled. We didn’t hit the ball again, not like we did in the last two games,” Chavez said. We just have to play with more confidence against a team like that,” Chavez said. “And (Ruidoso) played really well.”

The Portales girls (10-9) will host either Lovington or Dexter in the District 4-3A semifinals Thursday night at the Portales High School gymnasium. The winner of that game travels into the mountains to play Ruidoso for the district championship.

“I really think Ruidoso is the best in the state. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t beat them. We just have to be ready to play,” Chavez said. “I know we can beat them and our girls know we can beat them. We just have to play like we’re capable of.”