ROSWELL — Portales volleyball coach Ruth Chavez knows her team will have to start winning, and she knows they’re going to have to start winning soon.

The Lady Rams lost in three games at Goddard Tuesday night, 25-10, 25-11, 25-18 and marks Portales’ third loss to the Lady Rockets this season.
“They waited until the third game to come alive,” Chavez said. “I think they just played really scared.”

Chavez says the match wasn’t really competitive against one of the best teams in the state.

“We just didn’t play well. We played scared and we didn’t play a very good game,” Chavez said. “It was not a good night. They’re by far the best team we’ve played all year.”

But Chavez did credit senior setter Dallas Russell for great play.

“I thought Dallas worked hard and she tried to rally her team,” Chavez said. “She’s our leader.”

“Each one of us has to evaluate where they are and if they are doing the things that they are supposed to be doing to get better,” Chavez said.

Now is the time to get some wins.”

The Lady Rams host Artesia Thursday for their final pre-district tune-up. Chavez said Thursday night, the Lady Rams are joining other New Mexico high school volleyball teams with a fund-raiser for breast cancer research called Volley for the Cure. Fans are asked to wear pink and donations will be accepted at the game.

“We’ve got to turn the corner and see if we can come back on Thursday to try to turn it around,” Chavez said.