LOS ANGELES — The University of New Mexico volleyball team battled No. 6 USC Friday night in the USC Classic, but couldn’t pull off the upset in a three-set loss to the Trojans in the Galen Center.
Despite 12 kills from Devanne Sours and a double-double of 23 assists and 10 digs from Hannah Johnson, the Lobos (4-4) were stymied by the undefeated Women of Troy (10-0), falling 23-25, 10-25, 20-25.
“I was happy with the way we came out and battled in both sets one and three,” New Mexico head coach Jeff Nelson said. “Our passing was solid but we didn’t take care of the ball at the net. We were not aggressive enough. Way too many tips and shots. Hopefully this match will prepare us for more big matches in conference. USC is a really great team.”
New Mexico challenged USC in the first and third sets, as the Lobos collected 25 of their 31 total kills in those sets.
But the Trojans were simply too much for UNM, especially in a second set that saw the Lobos hit a season-low -.031. USC hit .293 on the match, while New Mexico was limited to a .110 success rate.
The Lobos have opened their season with a .500 record through their first eight games for the second straight year after posting 7-1 records in 2012 and 2013.
UNM opened the match playing catch-up, as USC jumped out to a 10-6 lead in set one. But the Lobos slowly came back into contention, knotting the set at 18-all via a handful of Trojan errors and kills by Simone Henderson and Skye Gullatt.
New Mexico took the lead at the next point — courtesy an error by USC’s do-it-all outside hitter Samantha Bricio — and built a 20-18 lead as Sours knocked home her fifth kill of the set.
However, USC closed on a 7-3 run to claim set one 25-23.
UNM hit a sparkling .343 in the set (13 kills, one error, 35 attempts), out-hitting the Trojans (.302).
But the Lobos’ strong play was quickly halted in set two, as USC leaped out to a 10-2 lead. New Mexico posted more errors in the second frame, giving easy points to the Trojans as they built their lead to 14-5.
The Lobos couldn’t get within eight points for the rest of the set, falling 25-10. It’s the lowest scoring output for UNM in a set to 25 points since the Lobos dropped a 25-8 set to Wyoming in 2013
New Mexico could only manage six kills (and seven attack errors) in the entire set, while USC posted a .433 success rate.
After the break, New Mexico recaptured their fire, bolting to a 6-1 lead on the Trojans. UNM held the lead until USC went on a 6-1 run to take the lead at 11-10.
Although the Lobos kept contact for the rest of the set, USC wouldn’t trail again, surrendering only ties at 15-all and 16-all.
USC was also able to contain Sours in the set, forcing the junior out of Tatum, N.M., into three attack error late as the Trojans finished on a 6-2 run en route to winning the final set 25-20.
Outside of Sours, no other Lobo had more than five kills, with Julia Warren tallying five. Henderson and Gullat both had four kills, while Johnson and House had three apiece to round out New Mexico’s entire offense.
Defensively, Warren and freshman libero Mercedes Pacheco had 12 digs apiece, while Johnson chipped in 10.
The Lobos return to action tomorrow as they close out the USC Classic with a 12 p.m. MT match with Idaho State (6-4). Idaho State also lost 3-0 to USC to open the tournament, while beating Utah State 3-0 earlier Saturday.