Lady Rams infused with youth

Many fans will recognize several faces as the 2008 Lady Ram volleyball team takes the court this season, but the unit has lost many pieces of the squad that won the New Mexico Class 3A state volleyball championship last November.

 Graduation is to blame for the loss of big hitters Bethany Self and Jordan Roehl, as well as the loss of Vicki Huber and Kassandra Short. But for the second time in three years, the Lady Rams will be without Tara Johnson due to a severe knee injury suffered during basketball season.
“We lost a big front row,” Portales head volleyball coach Ruth Chavez said.

The Lady Rams begin the 2008 season with four players who have significant playing time — Jenna Wagner, LeAnn Blaeser, Shandi Walker, and according to Chavez, the offense will still revolve around the athleticism and experience of senior setter Dallas Russell.

“Dallas is such a great, great athlete, and a great volleyball player” Chavez said. “Just having her presence on the floor (helps). They look up to Dallas. She’s the leader, she’s a captain, and she’s the strength in our team. (The younger girls) work hard because they see her working hard.”

“We all just work together. I think our setter, Dallas ,has a really big leadership role,” said Blaeser, a junior. “She just gets everything up. She can get to any ball. I think she just keeps us going and she helps us to work hard and motivate us.”

In addition to gaining youth, the Lady Rams also gained some experience in the form of Alexis Orcutt. The junior transferred from Elida and will be able to start playing in early September.

“She’s a big hitter,” Chavez said. “She’s not a big girl, but she jumps and she’s strong and she’s just a powerful hitter. And she’s real consistent. She’ll add a lot — it will change the whole tempo of the game when she comes back.”

The Portales girls opened their season Tuesday night with a five-set loss at Hobbs, and will compete in the Clovis volleyball tournament this weekend.

“They came out last night and you could sure tell the lack of experience on the floor,” Chavez said.

“We just weren’t in sync,” Blaeser said. “We definitely weren’t at the top of our game.”

One of Portales’ youngsters, freshman Macy Mitchell, has impressed Chavez in practices and in their opener against Hobbs.

“She’s young and she still has a lot fundamentally to go,” Chavez said, “but she’s a big powerful hitter and a hard working kid. And she’s moving up and asked to play at a high level for a young girl. I’m pleased with how she is coming along.”

After this weekend’s tournament in Clovis, the Lady Rams travel to Roswell High Sept. 2, then return to Roswell for the Zia Classic tournament.
“Of course, there’s high expectations. They know they’ve got to play a faster tempo, and they know they’ve got to step up because we have a reputation,” Chavez said. “There is pressure, and I know it’s going to take time, but I don’t want them to feel so much pressure that they can’t perform.”

“(This year) will be different,” Blaeser said, “but we have the same goal. We just have to try to do it again.”