Win puts UNM volleyball in conference lead
New Mexico took over first place in the Mountain West Conference volleyball standings after sweeping San Jose State 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-22) on Saturday at Johnson Gym.
It’s the best start in league play for the Lobos (11-7, 5-1) since 2013. Earlier in the day, Fresno State (12-6, 4-1) lost its first conference match of the season to Boise State.
Lauren Twitty tallied a double-double, registering 12 digs to go with a match-high 12 kills. Sabrina Bianco had a team-high 17 assists. Mercedes Pacheco had a career-high four aces as well as a team-high 14 digs for the Lobos, who used two new starters in Nicolette Clark and Jaclyn Inclan.
The Lobos face Fresno State this coming Saturday at the end of a two-game road swing that includes San Diego State on Thursday.
“I think that we have grown as a group,” said UNM coach Jeff Nelson. “They are playing better, pulling together better, and staying in the moment much better.”
■ In Chicago, Albuquerque’s Tatyana Battle had her 10th double-double of the season with 14 kills and 16 digs Saturday as New Mexico State routed host Chicago State 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-22). It was the fourth straight league win for the Aggies (14-5, 4-2), the preseason league favorites, after an 0-2 start.
MEN’S SOCCER: In Birmingham, Ala., host UAB (3-6-2, 1-3-1) scored three secondhalf goals and routed New Mexico 4-0 in Conference USA play. The loss was the fourth straight for the Lobos (3-9-0, 1-3-0) and seventh in eight matches. UNM managed only one shot on goal.
“These are good players making functional and technical mistakes,” UNM coach Jeremy Fishbein said of his team. “I take responsibility for the current team environment and the situation these guys have been put in — it’s on me.”
The Lobos will play C-USA foe South Carolina on Saturday.
WOMEN’S SOCCER: The University of New Mexico (6-5-1, 2-2-1) hosts Utah State today at 1 p.m. on an upswing; the Lobos rallied from a two-goal deficit on Friday night to tie Mountain West-leading Boise State 2-2.
SWIMMING/DIVING: In Las Cruces, Liberty concluded a two-day meet Saturday with a 185-117 victory over the Aggies at the NM State Swimming and Diving Complex.
Mackinna Hauff won both the 1-meter and 3-meter dive. The Aggies won the 400 freestyle and swept the 200 individual medley with Barbora Krizanova, Lauren Wood and Ashley Reynolds.
GOLF: The New Mexico State women host the fifth annual N.M. State Aggie Invitational, a 16-team event, Monday-Wednesday at the NMSU Golf Course.
Starting for New Mexico State will be Pun Chanachai, Dominique Galloway, Kehler Koss, Maria Prado and Tiegan Taylor. Angela Xu will play as an individual. Through two events this season, Rio Rancho’s Galloway leads the team with a 73.17 stroke average.
■ In Carrollton, Texas, senior Augustin Holé leads UNM after one round of play on Saturday at the Maridoe Intercollegiate hosted by North Texas. He is tied for 10th overall and leads the Lobos, who wrapped up round one in 11th place out of 14 squads. The Lobos are 25 over par, 19 strokes behind leader North Texas.