The Artesia High School volleyball team had a big weekend at Rio Rancho’s annual Volleybash, notching a pair of quality victories over higher-ranked Class 4A teams, before returning home Tuesday to top 5A Roswell High in their Pink Out game at Bulldog Pit.
When bracket play rolled around Saturday at the Volleybash, the girls in orange found themselves squaring off with 4A second-ranked Los Alamos in the opening round.
The Bulldogs came out strong in the match, posting a 25-15 win in Game One, then fended off a Hilltopper rally in the second set, 25-23. Los Alamos was able to steal one in extras in Game Three, 26-24, but the ‘Dogs closed out the 3-1 victory in the fourth set, 25-18.
That brought about a pre-district rematch with rival Goddard Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs had fallen to the 4A top-ranked Rockets in four Sept. 16 at the Sweet 16 Tournament in Las Cruces, but Artesia had other ideas this time around.
After taking the first set in a tight battle, 25-23, the ‘Dogs came out and dominated the Rockets in Game Two, 25-6. Artesia then moved in for the kill in the third set for a 3-0 sweep, 25-16.
The two big wins bumped the ‘Dogs’ record to 8-3 on the season. Los Alamos closed out the tournament with a 3-0 win over Roswell High to move to 7-3, and Goddard dropped to 8-3.
Artesia then improved to 9-3 Tuesday at Bulldog Pit with a four-game victory over Roswell.
The match was a nailbiter throughout, with Artesia taking Game One in extra points, 26-24, before coming up just short in the second set, 22-25. The ‘Dogs would battle their way to another victory in extras in Game Three, however, 27-25, before finishing the Coyotes off, 25-22.
Artesia will host 5A Clovis at 6:30 p.m. today at the Pit before closing out their regular-season slate on the road against Ruidoso at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hobbs at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, and Alamogordo at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19.