Kelati runs 2nd; Lobos take 9th

Aggie volleyball wins 9th straight

New Mexico’s Weini Kelati finished runner-up for the second consecutive season to Wisconsin’s Alicia Monson in Friday’s Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, but the No. 4-ranked Lobo women’s cross country team ran ninth of 26 teams competing at the premier race.

The UNM men ran 27th of 33 teams.

Kelati led from the second through fourth kilometers before finishing the 6K race at 19 minutes, 48.6 seconds. Teammate Ednah Kurgat took 18th at 20:22.1.

From there, the drop-off was substantial. The next Lobo to cross was Hanna Nuttall, 77th in 21:09.1. UNM says Adva Cohen, who recently ran for Israel in the World Championships, will be back, but she didn’t run in Wisconsin.

Jared Garcia was the top Lobo in the men’s race, finishing the 8K in 24:37.6.

Up next for UNM is the Mountain West Cross Country Championships to be held Nov. 1 in Logan, Utah.

In Riverside, Calif., New Mexico State placed second in the women’s race and third in the men’s race at the Highlander Invitational Saturday.

Michael Kirwa was the fastest male Aggie, covering the 8K in 24:25.61. NMSU’s Richelle Sandin was the fastest Aggie in the women’s race (21:00.26, 6K). Next up for both teams is the Western Athletic Conference championships Nov. 2 in Kansas City, Mo.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: New Mexico faces Air Force at noon Sunday, two days after a stirring 1-0 win over Colorado College in Colorado Springs.

The Lobos (9-5-0, 5-2 MWC) stayed tied for second place with Colorado State and San Diego State behind first-place Boise (6-1 in the league). The host Tigers fell to 8-5-0, 3-4-0.

Alexa Kirton scored from the top of the 18-yard box off a corner kick from Kate Browning in the 57th minute. It was her first 2019 goal.

Eastern New Mexico (4-6-1, 1-6-0 Lone Star) fell 1-0 to Angelo State (10-2-1, 6-1-1) Saturday.

VOLLEYBALL: New Mexico State (17-3, 8-0 WAC) won 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-18) over host Chicago State (4-18, 3-5) on Saturday. It was the Aggies’ ninth straight victory and is their best 20-game start since the 2007 team also went 17-3. Savannah Davison and Albuquerque’s Cat Kelly each had 11 kills to lead NMSU.

In San Jose, Calif., New Mexico (6-14, 1-7 MWC) fell 3-1 to San Jose State (7-12, 2-6). Jaclyn Inclan recorded a doubledouble for UNM with 28 assists and 18 digs for UNM. The Lobos play Tuesday at UNLV and return home for a 10:30 a.m. Oct. 26 match against Air Force in Dreamstyle Arena - the Pit.