ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Head UNM volleyball coach Jeff Nelson has announced the 2015 fall slate and is looking forward to an RPI challenge, including a nationally televised match, a home match against a top SEC opponent and a trip to his alma mater.
The Lobos went 24-7 and 19-12 in the past two seasons, respectively, but did not advance to postseason. Nelson is hopeful that this schedule will give his program the boost that is needed to get them in the NCAA tournament, even if they are not the top team from the Mountain West. The Lobos last appearance in the NCAA tournament was in 2010.
The schedule starts off on the road with a trip to Ball State, where Nelson played men’s volleyball for the Cardinals before graduating in 1986.
“It is exciting,” said Nelson. “I haven’t been back to Muncie in quite a while and I get to see the first two people I used to work with. One, my head coach Don and also the first coach I was an assistant for, Steve. He is the head coach for Ball State. I am looking forward to that and they have a great facility and volleyball tradition so I know it will be a really fun weekend.
The Lobos will return home the following weekend to host a challenging opponents, including a revenge match with SMU. Last season, the Lobos fell at SMU in five and will be looking to get even. Other teams that will highlight the Lobo Classic will top 50 opponent Santa Clara and as well as a tough Cal State Fullerton Program.
The third weekend of season will be one for the books as the Lobos will look forward to a PAC-12 televised match with USC. Pepperdine will also be in attendance but the tournament is still looking for that fourth team to round out the weekend.
“That we will be a weekend where we can go out and play really good teams in a tournament type atmosphere and really get ourselves ready that weekend to move towards conference.”
The final nonconference tournament of 2015 will be another strong weekend for the Lobos as they head into conference the next week. The Lobos will host the Lobo Invitational and will look forward to welcoming in a top SEC team in LSU. LIU-Brooklyn and Cal State Northridge, who both made the NCAA tournament last season, will round out the weekend.
“That is a really good tournament and really balanced across the board. Great matches to have at home. We will probably highlighting the LSU match and the Cal State Northridge match on Friday and Saturday night.”
The Lobos will round out its nonconference schedule with Rio Grande Rival New Mexico State on Sept. 29 before 16 Mountain West matches. Nelson expects his Lobos to compete against Colorado State, Boise State and Wyoming for the top spots in the conference.
“Boise State is going to be really good this year. We get Colorado State twice and that is our big Rival so that is important. Wyoming will be another good team for us.”