Aug. 29, 2008
By Richard Stevens, Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
The good news at the MCM Elegante Lobo Classic was the obvious. The University of New Mexico Lobos volleyball team opened its season Friday night in Johnson Center with a three-set sweep of Central Arkansas.
The Sugar Bears went down 25-19, 25-17 and 25-18.The bad news was kind of obvious, too. Sophomore Lisa Meeter went up high at the net and came down on a Sugar Bears player, who had scooted under the net into Meeter’s landing zone.
Ouch.
“I came down on her full force,” said Meeter, the Mountain West Conference Freshman of The Year in 2007. “I tried to walk it off, but it wasn’t going to happen. I tried.
“I’ve sprained it (her ankle) before so I knew I had to get off (the court).”
Lobo coach Jeff Nelson knew something was wrong, too.
Meeter doesn’t like to leave the court.
“I knew when she came over to the sidelines that it was serious because Lisa doesn’t like to come out,” said Nelson. “When Lisa went down we did a good job of adjusting. When you lose someone like that, you have to really serve and pass well and that’s what we did.”
On Saturday, the Lobos play Idaho State at 1 p.m. and Loyola Marymount at 7:30 p.m. in Johnson Center. Loyola plays Central Arkansas at 10:30 a.m. and at 5 p.m. Idaho State plays Central Arkansas.
The sweep over the Sugar Bears gives the Lobos a 1-0 season mark. The toughest opponent for UNM in this tournament should be the match with Loyola Marymount. The Lobos and the Lions came into the tournament with the highest 2007 final RPIs of the four teams.
Meeter is expected to sit out on Saturday.
“She’s a tough girl. She’ll get through it and be back,” said senior hitter Jeanne Fairchild. “It felt really good to play a game for real. You want to get out there and compete. We can always play better, but I think we did a good job for our first time out.”
In the first match Friday, Loyola Marymount beat Idaho State 25-13, 23-25, 25-18 and 25-20.
Nelson said one area of his team he hoped to see improvement on this year was the middle blockers. He was pleased with what he saw Friday.
“The middle blockers did a good job tonight,” said Nelson. “If you can run your middle, it really helps you set up your outside. This team (Central Arkansas) was camping out on Jeanne tonight.”
UNM was led by Fairchild with 11 kills. Jade Michaelsen had 33 assists. Gayle Tripp had 17 digs. Anna Lehne had seven blocks. UNM had ten total team blocks.