PHOENIX — No. 1 team in the nation, meet the Lobos’ No. 2 team.
Eastyn Baleto and Julia Warren remained undefeated in match play as they claimed the University of New Mexico’s sand volleyball team’s only point in a 4-1 loss to the top-ranked USC Trojans on Friday.
The duo extended their winning streak to five matches to open the Lobos’ inaugural season of sand volleyball as they knocked off USC’s Sophie Bukovec and Alexa Strange 21-17, 16-21, 15-10 on court two.
“I thought we battled well versus the No. 1 team in the nation and we gained tons of confidence,” head coach Jeff Nelson said.
Baleto and Warren were the only pair from New Mexico (1-4) to win against the top-ranked Trojans (10-0) Friday at the GCU Sand Courts on the campus of Grand Canyon University.
It’s just the fifth time USC has lost a match poin this season, with the other four coming in matches versus top-10 teams.
By dint of their win, Baleto and Warren have not only extended their winning streak, but also have kept their overall set record sparkling. They have lost only two sets this season.
“Julia and Eastyn played fantastic at the two, upsetting USC’s two in three sets,” Nelson said. “They were really steady and strong.”
The duo has been the most consistent pair for New Mexico during the first five matches in program history, giving the Lobos their only match points in losses to LSU and Grand Canyon.
So far, New Mexico has battled in each of its matches, faring well against more established programs to go along with its lone win against fellow first-year program TCU.
But the top-ranked Trojans, who are playing their fourth year, proved to be too much for UNM.
The rest of the Lobos gave their best shots versus the best team in the nation, but couldn’t win a set on any court.
On court one, UNM’s Hannah Johnson and Ashley Kelsey fell 21-11, 21-10 to the Trojans’ Sara Hughes and Kelly Claes, while the Lobos’ Devanne Sours and Chloe Crappell lost 21-11, 21-19 on court three to USC’s Eve Ettinger/Meg Nartan.
New Mexico’s Lise Rugland and Ashley Newman fell 21-15, 21-18 to Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler on court four, and the Lobos’ Maddie Mayfield and Sara Weber lost 21-4, 21-8 to Jenna Belton and Bria Russ.
In an exhibition match, USC’s Lorna Brandt and Paige Hanes defeated UNM’s Jackie Baro/Sami Reynolds 21-13, 21-18.
The Lobos will look to end their three-match losing streak tomorrow when they get a rematch with No. 19 Grand Canyon at the GCU Sand Courts at 11 a.m. MT. Last week, the Lopes took a pair of 4-1 decisions from the Lobos in Albuquerque.
New Mexico will also take on Arizona State at the PERA Club in Tempe at 6 p.m. MT. Check back at GoLobos.com for a full recap tomorrow night.
USC 4, UNM 1
- Sara Hughes/Kelly Claes (USC) def. Hannah Johnson/Ashley Kelsey (UNM) 21-11, 21-10
- Julia Warren/Eastyn Baleto (UNM) def. Sophie Bukovec/Alexa Strange (USC) 21-17, 16-21, 15-10
- Eve Ettinger/Meg Nartan (USC) def. Dev Sours/Chloe Crappell (UNM) 21-11, 21-19
- Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Lise Rugland/Ashley Newman (UNM) 21-15, 21-18
- Jenna Belton/Bria Russ (USC) def. Maddie Mayfield/Sara Weber (UNM) 21-4, 21-8
- Exhibition: Lorna Brandt/Paige Hanes (USC) def. Jackie Baro/Sami Reynolds (UNM) 21-13, 21-18