Nov. 1, 2008
PROVO, Utah — For the first time since 1991 the University of New Mexico volleyball team has swept BYU in the season series as the Lobos beat the Cougars, 25-19, 25-18, 25-20 Saturday night in Provo. The win improves UNM’s record to 18-5 overall and 8-4 in Mountain West Conference play, the most league wins by the Lobos since the MWC formed in 1999.
Lobo All-America candidate Jeanne Fairchild hit five of her team-high 16 kills in the first set to move into fifth place on the UNM all-time career kills list. Fairchild ended the night in fourth place with 1,134 kills in her career, moving ahead of Amber Smith (1,122; 1996-99) and Kim Hicks (1,131; 1980-81, ’83).
In all three sets, both teams battled to the 11-11 mark before UNM would gradually pull away to win all three sets. In the first set, the Lobos scored the last four points, 25-19, capped by the set-winner by Rose Morris. Fairchild put down the set-winners in the second and third sets, 25-18 and 25-20, to win the match.
In addition to Fairchild’s 16 kills, Lisa Meeter had 12 kills. Jade Michaelsen had 43 assists, while Gayle Tripp had 17 digs. Tripp needs just 17 digs to become the UNM all-time career dig leader.
The Lobos return home to face No. 14 Colorado State on Thursday, Nov. 6. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Johnson Center. The match will be telecast on The Mtn.