When: Fresno State, Thursday at 7 p.m. | UNLV, Saturday at 1 p.m.
Where: Johnson Center in Albuquerque, N.M.
GoLobos.com: Recaps, Results, PhotosNotes | Fresno State Live Stats & Live Stream | UNLV Live Stats & Live Stream
After three road trips in the last two weeks, the Lobos are finally back at home.
The University of New Mexico volleyball team returns to Albuquerque looking to regroup and rebound in a pair of Mountain West matches against Fresno State and UNLV this week in Johnson Center.
After taking on a season-long four-match road swing, the Lobos (9-9 overall, 2-3 MW) are aiming to find their stride and make a push toward the top of the conference as they host the Bulldogs (10-9, 2-3) on Thursday at 7 p.m. and the Rebels (11-6, 4-1) in their “Lobo Love Pink” game on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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“I think we’ve got a pretty good handle on the week,” New Mexico head coach Jeff Nelson said. “It’s great to be home. We had three trips in a row, so we’re really happy to be back in Johnson Center.”
UNM’s most recent road swing vs. top MW teams Colorado State and Wyoming saw the Lobos continue to shuffle lineups in the hopes of sparking the team. But, in both matches, New Mexico couldn’t strike the right balance between offense and defense and dropped each 3-0.
“We’ve used way too many lineups, so we’re really going to focus in on one this week and just play it out,” Nelson said. “Our team knows that and we’ve just been spinning the wheels too much, trying too many things.”
But this week’s slate provides the Lobos ample opportunity to move back into the MW conversation. UNLV sits second in the conference (behind No. 21 Colorado State) and Fresno State sits fifth, one slot ahead of UNM.
If the Lobos sweep their matches and things break right elsewhere in the conference, New Mexico could be back in third place by Saturday night.
Julia Warren is one of the keys for the Lobos as they endeavor to climb the conference ladder. After starting at libero and moving to outside hitter vs. CSU, she flipped that at Wyoming, starting outside before moving to libero.
Her production in both the front row and back row is critical for New Mexico, as her offense (160 kills in 2015) can help complement team leader Devanne Sours (217 kills) and as her defense (team-best 189 digs) paces the team.
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“We did make a change [last] week,” Nelson said. “Not sure how I felt about it, but we tried moving Warren back into the libero like we did last year. I just feel like offensively we need her at the net and also just the fire and stuff that she provides.”
With Cassie House shifted from right-side hitter to left side, the Lobos’ offense would benefit with Warren hitting. But with the platoon of Ashley Kelsey, Mercedes Pacheco and Stephanie Chavez at libero, Warren’s play could continue to steady UNM’s defense.
The only real constant for New Mexico has been senior setter Hannah Johnson, who leads the team in assists and is creeping closer to the program record in assists. She’s currently third all-time.
But, regardless of the lineup Nelson puts out Thursday vs. Fresno State, the Lobos will have to contend with a pair of teams that have stymied them in recent years.
New Mexico has only one win against Fresno State in the last eight contests between the schools, and it hasn’t beaten longtime conference rival UNLV at home since 2011.
Fresno State relies on three players for the bulk of its offense, with Carly Scarbrough (213 kills), Zana Bowens (204) and NM State transfer Aleisha Coates (200). Nelson knows containing Bowens — who put up 18 kills in last season’s matchup — is paramount for the Lobos.
Brooke Legaux keys the Bulldogs’ offense with 592 assists, while libero Maggie Eppright is near the top of the MW in digs (359, 4.99/set).
Preseason All-Mountain West selection Bree Hammel leads a UNLV team that is on a hot streak its last six matches. The Rebels are 5-1 over their last six, including a 4-1 start in MW play.
Nelson coached both Hammel and UNLV’s setter Alexis Patterson this past summer with the MW All-Star team, and knows what both are capable of. Hammel leads UNLV in kills (192) and is right behind the team lead in blocks (82) and aces (9). Patterson paces UNLV’s offense with 632 assists, and also adds 148 digs.
Ceannia Kincade (150 kills) and Alyssa Wing (139 kills) also contribute offensively, with Ashley Owens (84) helping out on the block. Carly Riehl is tops in aces (10) and digs (280).
The UNLV match is also UNM’s “Lobos Love Pink” game, as the Lobos will wear pink jerseys in support of cancer awareness and hold an auction benefiting the UNM Cancer Center.
“This Saturday is our Dig Pink event,” Nelson said. “We do that every year. We raise a lot of money and when we do our event, the money goes right into our University Cancer Center.”
Follow the links at the top for the broadcast and live stats, and follow @unmvolley on Twitter for in-game updates.