TUCSON, Ariz. — The Lobos finally won a point, and for a team looking to make strides, small steps are big victories.
Ashley Newman and Lise Rugland won a court but the University of New Mexico sand volleyball team dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 12 Arizona Sunday as it extended its losing streak to seven games.
The Lobos, who have played a total of nine matches during its inaugural season, avoided a shutout for the first time in four matches but couldn’t gain traction elsewhere at the Arizona Sand Volleyball Courts.
Although New Mexico (1-8) staved off a fourth consecutive straight-set loss vs. the Wildcats (10-1), it hasn’t won since last month when it defeated fellow first-year program TCU on the program’s opening day.
But, in spite of the losing streak, the Lobos managed to win a match point. It’s a step in the right director for a program looking to find an identity.
While New Mexico is finding itself on the wrong sides of scores, the Lobos have played an exceptionally difficult schedule with the goal of building a successful program.
New Mexico has now played six 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, Arizona twice and top-ranked USC once.
Set wins against these more established programs, like the one by Newman and Rugland, are signs of a maturing team as New Mexico continues its debut season.
Newman and Rugland, playing on court four, defeated Arizona’s Taylor Arizobal/Allie Cook in straight sets, the Lobos’ first two-set win since March 21 versus Grand Canyon.
The tandem, which hasn’t won since March 8 against TCU, topped the Wildcats’ No. 4 pair 23-21, 21-18.
Elsewhere, the Lobos couldn’t win any sets, falling in straight sets on every other court.
On court one, Ashley Kelsey and Hannah Johnson fell 21-9, 21-10 to Arizona’s Madi Kingdon/Kaitlyn Leary.
Court two saw Julia Warren and Eastyn Baleto drop their fourth straight match after starting 5-0 as they lost 21-10, 21-11 to Madison Witt/McKenna Witt.
Devanne Sours and Chloe Crappell fell 21-11, 21-18 to Kendall Polan/Rachel Rhoades on court three, while Jackie Baro/Maddie Mayfield lost 21-19, 21-8 to Sarah Seiber/Hailey Devlin on court five.
In an exhibition match, Mayfield and Taylor Cross lost 21-16, 22-20 to Taylor Lan/Olivia Macdonald .
The Lobos return to action next weekend when they head to Tempe for the ASU Sand Volleyball Challenge. UNM will take on Bakersfield Friday and Arizona and host Arizona State on Saturday.
Arizona 4, New Mexico 1
- Madi Kingdon/Kaitlyn Leary (UofA) def. Ashley Kelsey/Hannah Johnson (UNM) 21-9, 21-10
- Madison Witt/McKenna Witt (UofA) def. Julia Warren/Eastyn Baleto (UNM) 21-10, 21-11
- Kendall Polan/Rachel Rhoades (UofA) def. Devanne Sours/Chloe Crappell (UNM) 21-11, 21-18
- Lise Rugland/Ashley Newman (UNM) def. Taylor Arizobal/Allie Cook (UofA) 23-21, 21-18
- Sarah Seiber/Hailey Devlin (UofA) def. Jackie Baro/Maddie Mayfield (UNM) 21-19, 21-8
- Exhibition: Taylor Lan/Olivia Macdonald (UofA) def. Maddie Mayfield/Taylor Cross (UNM) 21-16, 22-20