Sept. 5, 2008
FAIRFAX, Va. — The University of New Mexico volleyball team has done something no other Lobo team has done since 1988, start the season on a 15-set win steak. UNM hit the mark today with a 25-14, 25-10, 25-14 win over LaSalle at the George Mason Patriot Invitational in Fairfax, Va. The Lobos are 5-0 on the season, taking each match in three sets.
The closest LaSalle got in the first set was 10-9 and 15-13, before the Lobos took control of the set. UNM outscored the Explorers 10-1 to end the set, keyed by kills from Jeanne Fairchild, Rose Morris, Allie Suiter and Kelly Williamson.
Jade Michaelsen served the Lobos to a 7-0 lead in the second set, while Gayle Tripp took the Lobos from 9-3 to 14-3. The freshmen sealed the win with two service aces by Allison Buck and a kill by Ashley Rhoades.
The Lobos traded points with LaSalle to start the third set, before kills by Taylor Hadfield and Lisa Meeter built the UNM lead to 8-5. New Mexico continued to build a lead and did not allow an Explorer point beyond the 21-14 mark.
Fairchild led the Lobos in kills for the fifth match in a row with 12. Hadfield led the front row defense with six blocks, while Tripp led the back row in digs with 14. Michaelsen and Sarah Kwasigroch split time at setter with 21 and 11 assists, respectively.
The Lobos’15-set win streak ranks tied for third in program history. UNM started the 1988 season at 15-0 and in 1986 had a 15-0 set streak from Sept. 6-26. A 16-set win streak occurred in 1993 from Nov. 19 thru the first set on Dec. 1. The longest UNM set win streak of 18 crosses from the end of the 1987 thru the streak to begin the 1988 season.
New Mexico continues action in the George Mason Patriot Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 6, against St. Francis (Pa.) at 10 a.m. (MDT) and host George Mason at 4 p.m. (MDT). Live stats will be available at GoLobos.com.