Nov. 21, 2005
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Mountain West Conference announced pairings for the 2005 Mountain West Conference Volleyball Championship which will be held Nov. 22-26 at Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV.
The first round match is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 22, to start championship play. The opening match pits No. 8 seed TCU (15-17, 3-13 MWC) taking on the No. 9 seed Air Force (5-27, 1-15 MWC) at 7 p.m. (PT), with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals. Thursday’s quarterfinal round will see No. 3 seed Utah (19-8, 11-5 MWC) vs. No. 6 seed Wyoming (12-15, 7-9 MWC), followed by second-seeded Colorado State (19-7, 12-4 MWC) and seventh-seeded New Mexico (14-13, 6-10 MWC) at 1:30 p.m. (PT). Top-seeded and 22nd-ranked BYU (23-2, 14-2 MWC) vs. the winner of No. 8 TCU/No. 9 Air Force and tournament host No. 4 UNLV vs. No. 5 San Diego State will wrap up quarterfinal play at 4 p.m. (PT) and 7 p.m. (PT), respectively. The quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. (PT). The championship match will take place Saturday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. (PT).
For the sixth straight year, the Mountain West Volleyball Championship will be televised, with this year marking the second straight season that the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship matches will be made available to a national audience by College Sports Television (CSTV). The MWC will be the only conference to have all its quarterfinals, semifinals and championship matches nationally televised. In addition to CSTV’s national coverage, matches can be seen on over-the-air and cable affiliates throughout the Mountain West Conference region. The 2005 NCAA Tournament Selection Show will be shown live Sunday, Nov. 27 between 2:30 and 3 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPNews.
CSTV is available in New Mexico through Comcast’s Sports Tier package on Channel 274. For those with DirecTV or Dish Network, the station is channel 610 and 152, respectively. For those who do not get CSTV, live video feed will be streaming to the MWC website (www.themwc.com) for free. Gametracker is also available on the MWC site for free.
Bill Doleman will call the play-by-play and Amy Gant will be the color analyst. A native of Fairbury, Neb., Doleman is a veteran sportscaster whose career as a freelance announcer has taken him from small-market public television to the national networks and several points in between. Named the Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year in 1998, Doleman has called games for ABC Sports, Fox Sports Net and the ESPN networks. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Doleman was the play-by-play announcer for the 2002 State Farm NACWAA Volleyball Classic held in Minneapolis, as well as the 2002, 2003 and 2004 MWC Volleyball Championships.
Gant, a 1998 graduate of BYU, brings an extensive volleyball background to television. She was a three-time All-American for the Cougars and played for the U.S. National Team from January 1998 to September 1999. An NCAA Woman of the Year top 10 finalist, Gant was the color analyst for the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Mountain West Conference Volleyball Championships.
AIR TIMES (All Pacific Time)
Thursday, Nov. 24
Match #1 — #3 Utah vs. #6 Wyoming, 11 a.m.
Match #2 — #2 Colorado State vs. #7 New Mexico, 1:30 p.m.
Match #3 — #1 BYU vs. Winner of #8 TCU/#9 Air Force, 4 p.m.
Match #4 — #4 UNLV vs. #5 San Diego State, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 25
Match #5* — Winners of Match No. 1 and Match No. 2, 5 p.m.
Match #6 — Winners of Match No. 3 and Match No. 4, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 26
Match #7 — Championship Match, 8 p.m.
*Shown tape delayed at 10 p.m. PT.
LOOKING AT THE LOBOS
According to the averages, New Mexico has been out-played by their opponents but the win-loss record states otherwise. With a 14-13 overall record, the Lobos have a better aces per game (1.89-1.88) and blocks per game average (2.73 – 2.17) while their opponents hold the edge in kills per game (12.68-14.39), attack percentage (.195-.196) assists per game (11.59 – 12.98) and digs per game (11.48-13.00). The Lobos are 2-0 at neutral locations but have not played a conference team at a neutral site this year. They were 9-6 at home and 3-7 on the road in the regular season.
Seniors Chelsea Sondrup and Nicole Ryan have been strong leaders for the Lobos on the court. Of everyday players, Sondrup maintains a team-high .279 average and tops the team in solo block (13), block assists (136), total blocks (149) and blocks per game (1.41). Ryan has scored more points (382.5) than any Lobo, averaging a team-high 3.15 kills per game. Sophomore Samie Weber has recorded the most aces for UNM with 33, averaging 0.31 per game. Freshman Gayle Tripp leads the team in digs (263, 2.63 per game) and classmate Sarah Kwasigroch tops the team in assists (1,088, 10.88 per game). Freshman Tanna Taylor has taken over the setter’s position with the loss of Kwasigroch and averaged 8.2 assists in her first two games as the setter.
HISTORY LESSON
New Mexico has won just one match at the Mountain West Conference Championships, a five-game victory over Air Force in 1999.
The last two consecutive appearances in the Mountain West Conference Championships has resulted in losses to Colorado State. CSU won in four games in 2003 and in three games in 2004.
New Mexico has played in 26 games over seven matches at the championships. In 1999 and 2000, the games were only played to 15. Since then, matches have been rally scoring to 30.
Most points: 32 (32-30) — Game 3 vs. Colorado State, 2003
Fewest points: 0 (15-1) — Game 2 vs. BYU, 1999
Largest margin of win: 14 (15-1) — Game 2 vs. Air Force, 1999
Largest margin of loss: 15, twice (15-0, 30-15) — Game 2 vs. BYU, 1999 & Game 1 vs. Utah, 2001
Closest margin of win: 2, twice (15-13, 32-30) — Game 1 vs. AFA, 1999 & Game 3 vs. CSU, 2003
Closest margin of loss: 2 (15-13) — Game 4 vs. Air Force, 1999
Three Games: 0-4
Four Game: 0-1
Five Games: 1-1
vs. Air Force: 1-0
vs. BYU: 0-1
vs. Colorado State: 0-2
vs. San Diego State: 0-2
vs. Utah: 0-1
Colorado State holds a 21-32 series lead against New Mexico. The Lobos are 12-12 in Albuquerque, 8-17 in Fort Collins and 1-3 at neutral locations.
New Mexico snapped the 18-match win streak the Rams had over the Lobos with a 3-1 at home on Oct. 22. CSU had previously won 13 of the last 16 by 3-0 margins. The first win of that streak came on Sept. 23, 1995, ending a five-match win streak UNM held over the Rams. The Lobos have a 10-match losing streak at Fort Collins. Their last win at CSU was in five games on Oct. 7, 1994.
Twenty-nine of the 53 matches between these two have resulted in sweeps. Colorado State has won 20 of those 29 matches.
WINNING WAYS SET NEW RECORDS
The last three years have been a growing process for the Lobo volleyball program. New Mexico came under the leadership of Kelley McKee and her staff in 2002 after winning only five games in 2001 under first-year coach Tom Peterson. McKee doubled the team’s win total in 2002 but 2003 and 2004 saw a decline as McKee worked to get the program and its players in the direction she invisioned.
Finally, that vision is becoming clear to the Lobo faithful. The team is off to one of the best starts in the history of Lobo volleyball. UNM strung together an impressive six-match win streak early in the season and started 8-2 over first 10 games. The Lobos made even more progress with great showings against BYU, Utah and Colorado State. The Lobos beat Utah, 3-2, on Sept. 24 in Albuquerque, ending a 17-match losing streak to the Utes that dated back to 1997. They topped Colorado State 3-1 on Oct. 22 at home, ending an 18-match losing streak.They just missed upsetting then-ranked No. 22 BYU, falling in five games. However, it was the first time since 1992 that UNM had played to five against the Cougars and only the second time since 1994 that the Lobos had not been shut out. UNM also put up great fights against UNLV and San Diego State, falling just short in five games.
McKee set a new best with the win at TCU on Oct. 8, which signified the team’s 11th of the season. The victory was the most UNM had achieved under McKee, whose previous high was 10, set in her first year, 2002. The 11 wins also tied the most the program had earned since 1999.
The Lobos, currently 14-13 overall have assured themselves their first .500 season since 1996. The last time UNM had a winning record was in 1996, finishing 18-11. They have tied the team’s most wins since 1997, when they went 14-15 overall.
LOBOS PROWL ATOP MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
New Mexico, finishing seventh in the Mountain West Conference regular season, ranks in the top two-thirds of the conference in four of the eight statistical categories kept track of by the MWC. The Lobos are second in service aces (1.89 per game) and third in blocks (2.73).They are fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.196 avg.) and fifth in win percentage (.519 avg.). What’s most impressive is that UNM has achieved success despite being picked to finish eighth in the MWC Preseason Poll.
Individually, three different Lobos place on the conference’s top-10 leaderboard. Senior Chelsea Sondrup on the list twice, placing third in blocks, averaging 1.41 per game and 10th in hitting percentage with a .279 avg. Freshman Sarah Kwasigroch stands sixth in assists, averaging 10.88 per game and Therkelsen is ninth in blocks per game (1.13).
As a team, the Lobos hold the best hitting percentage for an individual game in the MWC, hitting .452 against Delaware State. They posted the fourth most aces of any team in the conference with 16 against Air Force on Nov. 11. The Lobos tied for the sixth most blocks in a game, registering 19 vs. Wyoming on Oct. 20, and the 10th most blocks on Sept. 16 with 18.5 vs. Oral Roberts.
Sondrup is tied for the most blocks in a game with 12 against Oral Roberts and 12 against Utah on Sept. 24. Senior Nicole Ryan is fifth for most attempts in a game with 66 at TCU and tied for sixth in most kills in a game with 24 at TCU. Sondrup recorded the seventh best attack percentage in a game this year, hitting .650 against San Diego State at home and recorded the seventh most blocks with 11 vs. Wyoming. Sondrup and junior Kelly Therkelsen tied for the ninth most blocks with 10 against Montana and Wyoming, respectively.
SONDRUP SETS UNM BLOCKING RECORDS
Senior Chelsea Sondrup set a new UNM career blocking record at the Montana Invitational. Sondrup, who entered the tournament tied with Linda Archuleta (1980-82, ’84) for the record of 326, stuffed back 19, moving her career total to 345. She now has 462 career blocks.
Sondrup also holds the UNM career block assist record with 430. She broke the record of 252 held by Laurel Luman (1990-93) last year. Sondrup is the only Lobo in the program’s history to ever record 400 blocks and one of just four to make 300.
Two weeks ago at San Diego State and UNLV, Sondrup broke into the top-5 of the MWC Career Blocks book. She sits fourth, passing Aspen McPartland of San Diego State’s 398 block assists and places fifth in total blocks, passing BYU’s Jackie Bundy’s 420. Sondrup needs just 15 blocks to tie McPartland’s fourth-ranking 477 total blocks and 17 to tie Colorado State’s Angela Knopf’s 447 blocks assists, the third best in the MWC.
CHANGES FOR THE CAREER RECORD BOOK
Senior Chelsea Sondrup has already set two new career records and is etching her name on a few other lists. Sondrup is eighth on the all-time Blocks per game page, averaging 1.14 in her 404 games. She has the fifth most games played and needs just six more to jump to fourth. She is eighth with 111 matches played. One more match will put her in a three-way tie for sixth and two more will tie her fifth. Sondrup also broke onto the career points list with her performance against New Mexico State, taking 10th place. She now has 1,173.0, just 0.5 behind ninth.
Junior Kelly Therkelsen broke into the all-time block assists at Utah on Oct. 14. She has quickly moved up the charts, now holding the fourth spot with 247. Therkelsen needs three blocks to take over third and six for second. Therkelsen is also tenth in total blocks with 253. She needs four to take over ninth and six to take over eighth.
Freshman Sarah Kwasigroch had an unbelievable start to her career as the setter for UNM. Through 100 games, Kwasigroch dished out 1,088 assists, averaging 10.88 per game. Her current per game average is way above the previous record held by Jocelyn Funk, who averaged 10.07 apg. If Kwasigroch can maintain this average, she is set to accumulate over 4,300 in a four-year career. The 10th most assists at UNM is 1,490, which Kwasigroch should pass as a sophomore. The most assists in a career at New Mexico is 3,794 set by Janelle Torres from 1996-99.
SEASON RECORDS CHASE IS ON
Freshman Sarah Kwasigroch has placed her name in the season record book for assists and assists per game. She averaged 10.88 assists per game, placing her sixth. Kwasigroch dished out 1,088 assists in her first year as a Lobo, the fifth best production in one season in the program’s history.
Senior Chelsea Sondrup and junior Kelly Therkelsen are all over the blocking records. Sondrup surpassed her own record of 131, set in 2002, to set a new program best with 136. Therkelsen is right on her heels with 117, which leaves her third.
Sondrup nset a new season record for total blocks, having 149 so far this season. Therkelsen is tied for sixth with 120. Four more will give her sole possession of fifth, currently held by Sue Guinn’s 123 in 1983.
Sondrup is currently second on the blocks per game list, averaging 1.41. First place is 1.84 bpg, set by Sue Guinn in 1983.
LOBO SCOUTING REPORT
Colorado State Rams
Colorado State heads to Las Vegas for the Mountain West Conference Championships looking for a three-peat after win the tournament in 2003 and 2004. The Rams, 19-7 overall and 12-4 in the MWC, are the No. 2 seed this year. CSU is 1-1 at neutral locations, 12-2 at home and 6-4 on the road.
As a team, CSU averages better numbers than their opponents in every category. The Rams average 16.07 kills per game, 14.78 assists per game, 1.53 aces per game, 14.38 digs per game and 3.44 blocks per game with a .232 hitting percentage.
Dre Downs and Katherine Whitney lead the Rams in two categories each. Downs has the best attack percentage at .348 and most blocks per game at 1.52. Whitney averages 4.05 digs per game and 0.37 aces per game. Tess Rogers and Casey Bauer top the team in kills per game, averaging 3.57 and 3.47, respectively. Ashley Fornstrom has dished out a team-high 1,044 assists, averaging 11.47 per game.