Nov. 30, 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It is official. The University of New Mexico volleyball team will have to wait another year for a shot at its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1994. During tonight’s selection show on ESPNU, “New Mexico” did not appear on the bracket.
“I’m really disappointed, not just in the fact that we didn’t get in, but I feel that the West Region is under-represented with just five teams in the field,” said Lobo head coach Jeff Nelson. “I’m really disappointed for our three seniors. Jeanne (Fairchild), Sarah (Kwasigroch) and Gayle (Tripp) had a great year and earned the opportunity to advance. I’m mostly disappointed for them because they are great kids and worked hard.
“Finishing 22-7 and in third place in the Mountain West Conference should get you into the NCAA Tournament. We play in a great region that is really under-represented this year. That’s disappointing.”
UNM finishes the 2008 season with the most wins by a Lobo team (22) since 1994 as well as the most conference wins (11) since 1996. It was also the highest conference finish for UNM since the MWC formed in 1999 and most in any conference since 1996. Fairchild, Kwasigroch and Tripp finish their UNM careers among the top players in Lobo volleyball history. Fairchild finishes her career with 1,236 kills for third on the UNM career kills list, while Kwasigroch finishes seventh on the UNM career assists list with 2,634. Tripp became the Lobos career digs leader this season and finishes her career with 1,578.