Lobos Open League Play Vs. CSU
Wyoming’s Next With Match Saturday at Johnson Gym
Warm-up time is officially over for the University of New Mexico volleyball team.
The Lobos have constructed a shiny 12-2 record against a moderate pre-conference schedule, but the true tests start tonight. Mountain West Conference play gets rolling with powerhouse Colorado State visiting Johnson Center.
“This raises the bar for us right away,” UNM coach Jeff Nelson said. “I think it’s good to play the best teams first because it forces us to play at a higher level. But it’s a big challenge. CSU is very, very good.”
The Rams (7-4) can’t match New Mexico’s record, but that’s largely because CSU’s schedule has been far tougher. Its wins include a 3-1 defeat of New Mexico State, a sweep of No. 12 Pepperdine and a victory over Oklahoma (which swept UNM last week). One of the Rams’ losses came in five sets to No. 2 UCLA.
Rams coach Tom Hilbert had good reason to stack his schedule. His roster is loaded with talent and experience, including hardhitting middle blockers Megan Plourde and Brieon Paige. Plourde was the MWC Player of the Year as a junior.
“It’s not just their middles we have to worry about,” Nelson said, “but, yeah, those two kids really get after it.”
Colorado State also has tradition on its side. In 13 seasons, CSU has won nine Mountain West championships.
Under Hilbert, the Rams have been especially dominant against New Mexico. They’ve won 29 of 31 from the Lobos, losing only in 2005 and 2010.
Perhaps it’s no surprise then, that the Lobos choose to selectively remember that 2010 match at Johnson Center.
“That was my first year in the program,” redshirt sophomore Chantale Riddle said. “It was so exciting, such a great moment. I want to experience something like that on the court.”
If UNM is to threaten the overwhelming conference favorites, Riddle will have to play a primary role. She leads the Lobos in kills and points per set and has emerged as the team’s go-to player.
Nelson’s team is still trying to regroup from the loss of starting middle Elsa Krieg to a season-ending knee injury last week. The Lobos won twice without Krieg at the Oklahoma Invite but were blown out by the host Sooners. The loss snapped UNM’s 11-match winning streak.
Nelson credited that poor performance more to nerves and shaky play than to Krieg’s absence. So rather than make major rotation or position changes, Nelson has opted to have freshmen Megan Short and Skye Gullatt fill Krieg’s role.
“I just felt like this would make the changes less dramatic,” Nelson said. “Elsa’s hard to replace because she’s so efficient, but we need Megan and Skye to step up. They’re both working hard to do it.”
Tonight’s match is Part 1 of a stiff MWC-opening weekend for the Lobos. They host Wyoming (11-3), which was picked to finish third in the league, on Saturday night.
“It’s definitely a tough challenge,” Riddle said, “but it’s a challenge we can accept.”