Lobos look to close gap on Fresno
Nelson’s squad opens home stand tonight
Opportunity is knocking rather loudly this week for the University of New Mexico volleyball team.
Off to a 3-1 start in Mountain West play, the Lobos find themselves alone in second place with a chance to create a little separation. UNM hosts Nevada tonight at Johnson Center and entertains San Jose State on Saturday.
Step one is UNM’s annual Dig Pink match with the Lobos sporting pink jerseys as part of the effort to raise awareness and money for the fight against breast cancer. Gift baskets and gift cards will be raffled off with proceeds going to UNM Hospital’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Fans are encouraged to wear pink. Tickets for the match will cost $2.
But tonight’s match is not all about the promotion. The Lobos (9-7 overall) know they can gain ground in what figures to be a tight Mountain
West race with a home win over the Wolf Pack (8-7, 1-3).
“Fresno State (3-0 MWC) is already the only unbeaten team left,” UNM coach Jeff Nelson said. “The conference winner legitimately will have three or four losses this year. If we keep battling and playing like we have lately, we’ll be right in the middle of it.”
Battling has been a trademark of the 2018 Lobos, who are 4-2 in five-set matches and coming off a solid 3-2 road win at Air Force. Senior middle blocker Victoria Spragg was named MWC Offensive Player of the Week after back-to-back UNM wins, and Nelson’s squad seems to be building momentum as it adjusts to freshman setters Sabrina Bianco and Jaclyn Inclan.
“We’ve been getting a lot of players involved,” Nelson said, “and they’re all contributing. That’s really encouraging because that’s when teams tend to take off.”
UNM has received recent contributions from outside hitters Nicolette Clark and Danica Rowan, who have stepped up in Yasmin Tan’s absence. Tan suffered a concussion in practice and has missed the Lobos’ last three matches. She is not expected to play tonight but could return Saturday against San Jose State (6-7, 1-3), Nelson said.
Outside hitters Lauren Twitty (221 kills), Tai Bierria (190) and Carly Beddingfield (123) pace UNM’s offense. Spragg has a team-best 72 blocks, while middle Mariessa Carrasco has 59.
Outside hitter Kayla Afoa (189 kills) is Nevada’s top scorer. The Wolf Pack leads the MWC in digs per set but ranks last in blocks.
501 AND COUNTING: Nelson earned his 500th career coaching win last week against UNLV. The total includes indoor and beach team victories.