Lobo Volleyball Opens 2017 Season at Cyclone Invite
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Friday • 3 p.m. MT
Saturday • 9 a.m. MT
Saturday • 5:30 p.m. MTFan visiting Johnson Center this fall may need a few matches to figure out who’s who on this year’s New Mexico volleyball roster.
With nine new players, it’s practically a new team.
But, the brand of volleyball cultivated under 11th-year head coach Jeff Nelson remains, some familiar faces on the roster return and the team will still play in rally-scoring, best-three-out-of-five-set volleyball.
It’s a new team, no doubt, but it’s still the Lobos.
New Mexico kicks off its 2017 volleyball campaign on Friday with a young but talented roster as it looks to translate its potential into a strong season, contending against a challenging schedule in a parity-driven Mountain West.
The Lobos open up their season this week in Ames, Iowa, with three matches at the Cyclone Invitational, facing off against Nebraska Omaha on Friday before playing Kent State and Iowa State, a team receiving votes in the preseason AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll, on Saturday.
“Everybody thinks we’re so young, but there’s actually six kids that have had starting experience,” Nelson said. “I don’t think anyone’s expectations should be any lower. I would expect this team to really fare well and be competitive with everyone.”
The Lobos’ nine freshmen — which is tied for the sixth-most in all of Division I volleyball — gives this year’s team a definite air of youth.
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| Victoria Spragg |
However, that youth is accompanied by some returning talent.
Although there are so many new players, Nelson and his staff of Pauline Manser and JJ Glavan do return seven letterwinners and four starters.
Libero Ashley Kelsey is the team’s lone senior, and as she’s striving for the program record in career digs, the Lobos will have a strong group of upperclassmen to guide this young bunch.
New Mexico’s juniors, middle blockers Victoria Spragg and Mariessa Carrasco, setter Carson Heilborn and defensive specialist Mercedes Pacheco, are all capable of providing key leadership as the Lobos transition to their new-look roster.
Add in sophomore outside hitter Lauren Twitty and Long Beach State transfer and Albuquerque native Carly Beddingfield, and the Lobos have the experience to balance their youthfulness.
“We return four starters, but Lauren even started part of the time [last season], so we return five kids with starting experience,” Nelson said. “And Carly started her freshman year at Long Beach State.”
Filling out their rotation with newcomers is the most significant task facing Nelson and company entering the regular season.
Despite the sheer number of freshmen, this group of neophytes have shown well in the opening weeks of the season, playing a bit more mature than the typical freshmen.
“It’s really unique to see freshmen throw that freshmen role away and just go for it in here,” Nelson said. “Maybe it’s because there’s so many, but they’re playing good ball.”
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| Lauren Twitty |
Hailey Rubino, one of the Lobos’ freshmen, lined up with the veterans during the team’s intrasquad exhibition last weekend, while fellow first-years Nicolette Clark and Yasmin Tan led the way in opposition.
Along with rookies Danica Rowan, Sarah Lobo and Danica Rowan, New Mexico has some versatility up and down its roster.
“There’s some real experience in those young players,” Nelson said. “… I think three or four freshmen will play a lot right away. I think they’re that good.”
The Lobos will count on that youthful experience and talent this season as they take on a strong schedule.
To open their season, New Mexico heads to the Midwest, where they’ll get a solid test playing Omaha, Kent State and Iowa State.
The Mavericks of Nebraska Omaha were picked to finish in a tie for fifth in the 2017 Summit League Preseason Coaches’ Poll, and return eight letterwinners and four starters. Kent State returns 13 letterwinners and five starters after finishing 16-16 last season.
Iowa State opened up the 2017 season receiving votes in the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll, and was picked to finish fourth in the 2017 Big 12 Preseason Volleyball Poll. The Cyclones lose just one starter from its 2016 squad.
“We start off playing at Iowa State, so that’s going to be a really good challenge for us,” Kelsey said.
After that, the Lobos head to UTEP for three matches vs. Youngstown State, North Dakota and UTEP, and finish the invitational portion of their non-conference slate at Toledo.
Sandwiched in between those two weekend, New Mexico hosts the Lobo Classic, welcoming Portland, Northern Colorado and UT Arlington to Johnson Center for a two-day, round-robin tournament.
After closing out non-conference play, the Lobos will then turn their attention to the Mountain West. Colorado State and Boise State are the preseason frontrunners, but the league is largely up for grabs.
Fans can follow @UNMLoboVB on Twitter and Instagram for information and updates on the team!