Nov. 29, 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It was a great Senior Day for the University of New Mexico volleyball team as Jeanne Fairchild, Sarah Kwasigroch, and Gayle Tripp led the Lobos to a 3-0 win over Virginia Commonwealth in the finale of the Comcast Lobo Challenge. The Lobos improved their overall record to 22-7 with the 25-12, 25-18, 25-14 win. It was probably the final home match of the season for the three Lobo seniors as they wait out the NCAA Selection Committee’s decision. The selection show will air on ESPNU at 8 p.m. (MST).
Fairchild recorded a match-high 13 kills to move into third place on the UNM career kills list with 1,236, passing two-time All-American Pauline Manser (1,229; 1988-91). Fairchild took over third with her final kill of the first set.
The Lobos took the lead in the first set at 4-3 and gradually pulled away from VCU, out-hitting the Rams, .400 to -.065. Fairchild has five kills, while Anna Lehne was a perfect 4 for 4 with two block assists in the 25-12 win.
The Rams played tighter with the Lobos in the second set, keeping things close to 17-all. UNM went on an 8-1 run to win the set, 25-18. Fairchild and Lisa Meeter had four kills each, while Lehne pitched in with three.
In the third set, the Lobos jumped out to a 9-3 lead and kept the Ram attack at bay. Fairchild built the Lobo lead to 16-6 on one of her four kills in the set. UNM held on for the 25-14 win. Kwasigroch picked up her second service ace of the match on match-point.
Tripp led the Lobos with nine digs and moved into third place on the Mountain West Conference career digs list with 1,578. Jade Michaelsen led UNM with 25 assists, while Kwasigroch added 12 to her seventh place standing on the UNM career assists list at 2,634.