July 14, 2011
Ten Lobo Moments: GoLobos.com is flashing back on ten special Lobo moments from the 2010-11 season.
Sunday: Birmingham’s Lobos Find Magic on The Diamond
Previous Flashbacks of 2010-11
Vela’s Lobos Kick Out Dazzling Season of Firsts
Alford’s Lobos Shock BYU & Jimmer Lobo Cross Country Goes Sweep-Sweep, Sweep-Sweep
Castro’s Walk-Off Homer Buries BYU
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
It’s not exactly accurate to call the Lobos’ convincing shearing of CSU Rams a shocking upset.
When the Lobo volleyball team, often labeled by Coach Jeff Nelson as being “too nice,” came at a team with fangs and passion and focus, the Lobos were a fearful thing to watch.
They were fearful Nov. 21, 2010 in Johnson Center when the No. 13 Rams strolled into town probably figuring on doing what Rams usually do with Lobos – kicking rear and taking names.
But the Lobos on the court that night were a nasty bunch. They weren’t nice. Their fangs were as sharp as their spikes. If there had been any vampires lurking in the rafters of Johnson Center, those night creatures surely would have flown the coop in fear of the Lobo beasts prowling the floor.
This was a major beat down accented by magnificent floor play, heart and passion — but it didn’t start out that way. In fact, the Lobos fell into an impossible 13-5 hole in the first game. It looked like the Rams — winners of 29 of the previous 30 meetings — would be taking some names again.
Then something happened. Then the Lobos got nasty, aggressive and beautiful up front, in the back, all over. “I think we were tired of the same regime we always give them. We wanted to push back,” said senior Lisa Meeter .
Said senior Jade Michaelsen: “We are a team that needs to figure things out and then we go for it. We had to go out there and be aggressive and take risks and that’s what we did.”
In volleyball, you don’t fall behind 13-5 to the No. 13 team in the nation and rally for the win. Somehow they Lobos did it. CSU was up 18-15 before being outscored 10-3 as UNM posted a 25-21 win. The Rams looked stunned.
The Lobos won the next game 25-22, rolling to leads of 8-1, 16-10 and 23-16. CSU came out of the break to go up 7-1 in Game Three, but UNM powered into a 21-14 lead and held on for the 25-23 win.
“They might have underestimated us, but we were out to prove a point,” said Michaelsen. “We worked so hard for this moment. This win was very, very special.”
Said Coach Nelson: “In rebuilding the program, this was the one team left in the conference we hadn’t beaten. It was a huge win. We played with heart and passion. We fought like heck tonight. We had to kick it in.”
Meeter had a special night against CSU. She ended with 15 kills and 15 digs to show why she is one of the top all-around players in the nation. Meeter is as much defense as she is offense.
The play of the back row also was huge for the Lobos. UNM’s Allison Buck had 13 digs, Michaelsen had nine, Mariah Agre seven and Miquella Lovato had six. UNM had 59 digs to 43 for CSU.
For sure, it was a signature win and a signature moment for this program, which hadn’t beaten CSU in Albuquerque since 2005. But here’s a stat the Lobos can carry with them into the 2011 season.
They haven’t won in Fort Collins in 16 years. So, don’t put those fangs away just yet, Lobos.