The Goddard Rockets volleyball team is coming off a 23-3 season that saw them go undefeated in district play (6-0) and advance to the semifinals of the state playoffs, where they lost 3-0 to Albuquerque Academy.
Key players and losses
The Rockets are losing four players who graduated in May, including setter Camille Holloway, outside hitter Camila Herrera, libero Viviana Varela and outside hitter Aliyah Dominguez.
Returning are senior outside hitter Payton Abalos, senior middle blocker Tatum Boone, and junior setter Landry Brown. Abalos was No. 1 in both kills and aces in 4A last season, and Brown was No. 2 in assists.
Junior outside hitter Liv Riffell transferred to Goddard after playing for Pace High School in Pace, Florida and will play a vital role on the team, according to second-year head coach Andy Luikens.
Luikens said he likes the team he has but wants to see improvement in certain areas.
“I know we can compete, but I want to see other things first,” Luikens said. “I want to see us improve our passing, find the libero, and get a little more balanced attack.”
Schedule outlook
The Rockets open their season against Valencia at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, on the road. Goddard’s first home game will be against Gadsden at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Soon after this, the Rockets compete in the Sweet 16 Tournament at Las Cruces High School from Sept. 4-5. They will then play in the Zia Classic Tournament at Roswell High School from Sept. 11-12. The last tournament they participate in is the Portales High School Tournament from Sept. 25-26. They won both the Zia Classic and Portales tournaments last year.
Goddard faces St. Pius X at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, and Albuquerque Academy at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, on the road. These two teams faced each other in the state championship last season, with St. Pius X winning 3-0.
Luikens said this will be a great opportunity for his program.
“Those games are going to be a good opportunity to see where we are midseason and then make some changes and see what we can do,” Luikens said.
Goddard begins district play against Lovington at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, on the road. The Rockets will play six district games, competing against each team twice. The teams in its district are Lovington, Artesia, and Portales.
Fan support and excitement
Luikens said he is ready for the season and wants to have as much fan support as possible.
“I’m just excited,” Luikens said. “I encourage people to come out and watch. They’re fun to watch and they should have a good season.”
Marshall Mecham can be reached at (915) 232-1793 or on X @mecham_marshall.
Mecham serves with the New Mexico Local News Fellowship, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across the state. Learn more at www.newmexicolocalnewsfellowships.org.
