TUCSON, Ariz. — As the program continues to mature and develop, wins will come. For now, the youthful Lobos will have to endure some growing pains.
The University of New Mexico sand volleyball team fell 5-0 to No. 12 Arizona at the Arizona Sand Volleyball Courts Saturday as it dropped its sixth consecutive match during its inaugural season.
The Lobos, who have played a total of eight matches ever, were shut out for the third straight match and couldn’t build on promising performances out of its No. 1 and No. 5 teams to halt the Wildcats (9-1).
“Our No. 1, Hannah Johnson and Ashley Kelsey, played great,” assistant coach Lisa Beauchene said. “So did out No. 5, Maddie Mayfield and Jackie Baro.”
Despite strong performances on a couple of courts, the Lobos’ still haven’t found a rhythm in their debut season.
After beating fellow first-year program TCU to open the program almost a month ago, New Mexico hasn’t won, dropping six straight matches.
But, as much as on-court improvements are positives for the young program, the silver lining to the Lobos’ 1-7 start is that they’re playing some of the best teams in the nation.
New Mexico has now played five matches against nationally ranked teams and an additional pair of matches versus team that have received votes in the polls during the year.
During this stretch, the Lobos have played Grand Canyon three times and took on top-ranked USC.
And while the on-court product is still developing, the trials UNM is encountering this season will pay off.
New Mexico’s No. 1 team of Johnson and Kelsey are proof of that as they took Arizona’s one-loss No. 1 team of Madi Kingdon/Kaitlyn Leary to three sets.
After dropping the opening set 21-14, the Lobos top tandem responded with a set win, taking set two 21-19. But the Wildcats clawed back, claiming the decisive third set 15-12.
On court two, Lobo duo Eastyn Baleto and Julia Warren dropped their third straight match after winning five in a row to start the year. They fell 21-12, 21-11 to twins Madison Witt/McKenna Witt.
Devanne Sours and Chloe Crappell put up a solid fight against Kendall Polan/Rachel Rhoades and court three, losing 23-21, 21-15, while Lise Rugland/Ashley Newman lost 21-15, 21-10 to Taylor Arizobal/Allie Cook on court four.
In the fifth position, Baro and Mayfield lost 21-13, 21-8 to Sarah Seiber/Hailey Devlin on court five.
In an exhibition match, Mayfield and Taylor Cross lost 21-7, 21-16 to Emily Kiser/Olivia Macdonald.
The Lobos return to action tomorrow when they take on the Wildcats for the second of two matches at 12 p.m. MT. Check back at GoLobos.com for a recap of that match.
Arizona 5, New Mexico 0
- Madi Kingdon/Kaitlyn Leary (UofA) def. Ashley Kelsey/Hannah Johnson (UNM) 21-14, 19-21, 15-21
- Madison Witt/McKenna Witt (UofA) def. Julia Warren/Eastyn Baleto (UNM) 21-12, 21-11
- Kendall Polan/Rachel Rhoades (UofA) def. Devanne Sours/Chloe Crappell (UNM) 23-21, 21-15
- Taylor Arizobal/Allie Cook (UofA) def. Lise Rugland/Ashley Newman (UNM) 21-15, 21-10
- Sarah Seiber/Hailey Devlin (UofA) def. Jackie Baro/Maddie Mayfield (UNM) 21-13, 21-8
- Exhibition: Emily Kiser/Olivia Macdonald (UofA) def. Maddie Mayfield/Taylor Cross (UNM) 21-7, 21-16