Nov. 20, 2008
Lobo Volleyball
Friday: Lobos vs. TCU
When/Where: 7 p.m., Johnson Center
Up Next: Comcast Challenge: Lobos vs. NMSU (Nov. 28); Lobos vs Virginia Commonwealth (Nov. 29); Johnson Center
By Richard Stevens — Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
There is a scene in the movie “Marathon Man,” where the evil dentist guy keeps asking Dustin Hoffman over and over again, “Is it safe?” The Albuquerque media keeps throwing the same question at Lobos volleyball coach Jeff Nelson.
Hoffman didn’t have an answer and kept getting punished with some nasty drill work minus any pain killer. Nelson has an answer: “I don’t think you’re ever safe.”
Marathon Man came out before any of the University of New Mexico volleyball players were even born. They might know who Hoffman is. But the question has burning significance for this talented bunch of Lobos: “Have they done enough to feel safe with the NCAA Selection Committee?”
“I think it’s very important that we work hard, win out and put ourselves in a better spot,” said Nelson.
The next best chance at a better spot for UNM comes Friday when the TCU Horned Frogs visit Johnson Center. If the Lobos squash the Frogs, the Lobos will finish alone in third place in the Mountain West Conference.
Colorado State and Utah are still trying to figure out the league champion and runnerup. The Rams and the Utes appear to be locks to make the NCAA postseason regardless of where they eventually fall in the MWC race. The Lobos are looking good, but . . . .
“You never know,” said Nelson. “We have some great matches coming up against teams that have good RPIs and strength of schedule that will help us. Our goal, what we’re focusing on, is to win those matches and make a great cause for ourselves that can’t be debated.”
A third-place finish ahead of TCU would be a nice statement for the Lobos. If they lose to the Frogs, that means TCU will own a sweep over the Lobos. Not good. TCU surprised the Lobos 3-2 in Fort Worth.
And what happens if UNM beats TCU and then drops its final two regular-season games to New Mexico State and Virginia Commonwealth in the Nov. 28-29 Comcast Challenge?
Yeah, it would be best for the Lobos to end all the “safe” questions by winning out the season. Remember, the Lobos men’s soccer team thought it would be “safe” with an NCAA Selection Committee by winning its last two games. Those Lobos were not invited to postseason play.
The Lobos take a 20-6 overall mark at TCU. A 20-win season is something committee members notice, but 23 wins looks better. “We want to finish with 23 wins and we don’t really have a significant (bad) loss,” said Nelson. “All our losses, with the exception of one (TCU), are to Top 15 teams.” The Lobos other five losses are to CSU (twice), Utah (twice) and at Nebraska.
The Lobos are 10-5 in the MWC and TCU is 20-9 overall and 9-6 in the MWC. The Frogs’ motivation is to tie UNM at 10-6 and then point out their sweep over the Lobos. That carrot dangling in front of the Frogs should have the Frogs fiery for their visit to Johnson Center.
TCU also has some talent. Christy Hudson, Kourtney Edwards and Devon Kirk are in the MWC top 10 in hitting percentage. Lauren Otto, however, is the nastiest Frog at the net, leading the team with 2.94 kills per set.
Coach Nelson said a key for him and his coaching staff is to keep the Lobos’ fire hot, too. “This is new territory for our group,” Nelson said of making a stretch run at postseason play. “We felt like practice wasn’t the level we wanted it at. They weren’t fighting hard enough.
“We sat them down and talked to them about it. Right now, we’re not going to teach them a lot more skills. What we have to do is get them to battle hard and fight for what they want.”
The Lobos should have good senior leadership down the stretch behind Jeanne Fairchild, Gayle Tripp and Sarah Kwasigroch. But Fairchild obviously is the biggest spark for this group on the court because of her ability to go high above the net and savagely spike volleyballs down at the enemy. Her kills also energize the Johnson Center crowd which Nelson says has “been a big part of our success so far.”
“There is no question she is a key to what happens the next few weeks,” said Nelson of Fairchild.
Editor’s note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and sports columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net. Previous articles are available at The Richard Stevens Corner