Oct. 18, 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — All-America candidate Jeanne Fairchild had 18 kills as the University of New Mexico volleyball team beat Air Force, 25-9, 25-13, 25-18 on Saturday night at Johnson Center. The win improved the Lobos’ overall record to 15-4 and 5-3 at the halfway point of the Mountain West Conference season.
UNM jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first set on the serve of Lisa Meeter and kept the Falcons at bay for the rest of the set. The Lobos out-hit AFA .536 to .061 for the 25-9 win.
The Lobos got off to a 4-0 start in the second set. The set took a short delay at 9-5 with an impromptu fire drill that cleared the arena. When the set resumed, the teams exchanged service errors, then settled back into the set, 10-6. Fairchild had nine kills down the stretch to build the Lobo lead to 22-10 and capped the set at 25-13.
Fairchild picked up six more kills in the third set as the Lobos took the match 25-18. Freshman Kelly Williamson pounded the final kill for the win.
Williamson finished second on the team with eight kills. Jade Michaelsen finished the match with 36 assists, while Gayle Tripp led all passers with seven digs. Freshman Ashley Rhoades made the most of her appearance coming up with three big solo blocks to go along with two block assists.
The Lobos return to the court on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. against UNLV. It will be Volley for the Cure Night at Johnson Center as the Lobos promote breast cancer awareness. Fans who wear pink to Thursday’s match get in for $1.