Sept. 5, 2008
Sept. 7 Lobos in Washington D.C.
FAIRFAX, Va. — After taking the first set 25-10, it looked like the University of New Mexico volleyball team was going to coast to its fourth consecutive win to start the season. But Rutgers had other ideas as the Lobos battled back in sets two and three, 25-22 and 26-24 for the win in three.
UNM took a 7-2 lead in the first set behind a solid attack, including kills by Jeanne Fairchild, an ace by Jade Michaelsen, and a block by Taylor Hadfield and Allie Suiter. The Scarlet Knights cut the Lobo lead to 10-7. At 16-9, the Lobos only allowed one more Rutgers point for the win.
Rutgers scored first in the second set before UNM took a 3-1 lead. The Scarlet Knights took advantage of several Lobo errors to take a 12-8 lead. Rutgers’ miscues put UNM back in the set, 12-11. A kill by Rose Morris tied the set at 15 and the teams swapped points until the Lobos took the lead for good at 20-19 on a kill by Fairchild. Lisa Meeter recorded the final two kills of the set for the Lobo win. Meeter saw her first action of the season since suffering a sprained ankle in the first set of the season against Central Arkansas.
The Lobos were down 13-8 in the third set and chipped away at the Rutgers lead to even things up at 15. Freshman Kelly Williamson had two kills during the 7-2 run to put the Lobos back in the set. The Lobos regained the lead on a block by Fairchild and Suiter, 18-17. UNM never gave up the lead despite Rutgers tying the set three times. Morris and Sarah Kwasigroch recorded the final two kills of the set for the match win.
Fairchild led the Lobo attack with 19 kills while Morris pitched in with 12. Michaelsen and Kwasigroch split time at setter with 26 and 16 assists, respectively. Gayle Tripp, the MVP of the MCM Elegante Lobo Classic last weekend, led the defense with 17 digs, while Suiter had seven blocks defensively in the front row.
UNM continues action this afternoon at 3 p.m. (MDT) against LaSalle. Live stats are available on GoLobos.com.