Oct. 27, 2006
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team evened the score Friday night against the Lobos, shutting them out (24-30, 27-30, 22-30) to successfully avoid the season series sweep. New Mexico, which fell to 7-16 overall and 3-8 in the Mountain West, won the season series opener in Albuquerque, 3-0.
Trailing by five (4-9) early in game one, sophomore Jeanne Fairchild put down three kills, sparking an 8-3 Lobo run. With the match tied at 19, the Aztecs outscored New Mexico 11-5 to win the game. Both teams hit well, with SDSU posting a .463 (23K-4E-41TA) attack percentage while UNM hit .387 (14K-2E-31TA).
New Mexico’s hot hitting carried over to game two as the Lobos hit .500 (11-for-22) with no errors through the first half. Despite that, the Aztecs hung around, producing 10 ties and 10 lead changes in the game. The Lobos were up 26-24 when SDSU strung together a 5-1 run for the win.
The teams traded points to four opening game three, when Kelley Wahlin recorded two kills in a 3-0 SDSU run that gave the Aztecs a lead they never relinquished. The Lobos pulled within two twice but a 5-0 run for San Diego State put the match away. The Aztecs’ hot hitting really guided them to the win, hitting .417 (19K-4E-36TA) while holding New Mexico to a .205 (13K-5E-39TA) attack percentage.
Fairchild led the Lobos with 13 kills while freshman Allison Suiter notched 12, hitting a match-leading .667 (12K-0E-18TA). Sophomore Sarah Kwasigroch dished out 36 assists, bringing her career total to 1,903. She also added the team’s two aces. Classmate Gayle Tripp had a team-high 11 digs.
Four Aztecs hit in double-figures, including Melanie Greene, who posted a double-double on a match-leading 14 kills and 11 digs.
The Lobos return to the court tomorrow night at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada, taking on UNLV at 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT.