Sept. 24, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico ended a 17-game losing streak again Utah, dating back to 1996, with a 3-2 win in Albuquerque Saturday evening. The Lobos, 9-3 overall and 1-1 in the Mountain West Conference, tie last season’s win total and are one win shy of tying the program’s high under head coach Kelley McKee’s tutelage.
The Lobos jumped out to a 2-0 game lead taking game one, 30-26 and game two, 30-27. Senior Nicole Ryan put down nine kills over games one and two while senior Chelsea Sondrup and freshman Michelle Miller added eight apiece. New Mexico also recorded 10 of its 17.5 total blocks in games one and two.
Utah’s Shelly Sommerfeldt got the Utes back in the match, putting down 14 of her game-high 22 kills in games three and four. Utah took game three, 30-22 and game four, 30-18. Utah out-hit UNM in both games, posting a .256 average in game three and .425 average in game four.
New Mexico headed into game five for the fourth straight match. Both teams battled evenly with nine score ties and seven lead changes. The nine tied and seven lead changes were at least three more than any of the previous four games.
With the score even at 12, junior Kelly Therkelsen went back to serve. Therkelsen got an attack error on her first serve and a kill from sophomore Samie Weber on her second serve for a 14-12 lead. Utah got the serve back but Weber slammed down a kill for game point (15-13).
Sondrup recorded a double-double, putting down 12 kills with 12 blocks. Ryan posted a team-high 19 kills while Miller added 11, complimenting her team-high 14 digs. Sophomore Kim Cox tied Miller with 14 digs. Freshman Sarah Kwasigroch dished out 52 of UNM’s 54 assists.
The Lobos return to the court on Friday, Sept. 30, hosting UNLV. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.