Nov. 7, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Despite a win in game one, the New Mexico volleyball team fell 3-1 in their final home match of the season. The loss came at the hands of I-25 rival New Mexico State, which sweeps the season series and extends it win streak to four games.
The Lobos never trailed in game one, winning 30-28. The Lobos had a 21-20 advantage when senior Nicole Ryan forced down a kill to take the serve and force an error on the Aggies. A kill from senior Chelsea Sondrup and an ace from sophomore Kim Cox would push the Lobo lead to four, giving them just enough to hold on for the win.
NMSU’s Tanya Allen and Kim Oguh came out firing for three and four kills, respectively, taking a 10-4 lead in game two. The Lobos could never quite catch up, cutting the lead to two at 14-16 but the Aggies Alice Borden stepped up, putting down five kills as they went on to a 30-20 win.
Game three was hard fought with seven ties and five lead changes. UNM trailed by three (9-12) when Cox went back to serve, getting a kill from Miller and a block and a kill from Sondrup to tie the game. Two more Sondrup kills and two from sophomore Samie Weber extended the lead to four before the Aggies battled back. With the match tied at 22, Weber put down two kills but it wasn’t enough as NMSU held on for a 30-27 win.
Two kills from Sondrup and two from Miller sparked an 8-3 run to open game four. Freshman Sarah Kwasigroch put down two straight kills to halt a 4-0 NMSU run but two UNM errors tied the game at 10. Five ties and five lead changes later, NMSU’s Sarah Silagy put down three kills to put them at game point. Oguh sealed the match with a kill on the next serve.
Sophomore Samie Weber led the team with a team-high 14 kills, hitting .344 (14K-3E-32TA). Sondrup added 13 kills and a team-high seven blocks, hitting .321. Miller chipped in with 12 kills. Freshman Sarah Kwasigroch dished out a team-high 45 assists while classmate Gayle Tripp led UNM with 12 digs and three aces.
The Lobos (13-11, 5-8 MWC) head to Colorado Springs for a 7 p.m. match with Air Force on Saturday.