ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — After four straight five-set matches against Fresno State, the Lobos had every right to expect another drawn-out battle against the Bulldogs Thursday night.
Instead, they got a quick sweep and a much-needed victory.
Cassie House tallied 13 kills and middle blockers Skye Gullatt and Simone Henderson combined for 16 kills and 5 ½ blocks to power New Mexico volleyball to a sweep of Fresno State, 25-21, 25-23, 25-22.
The Lobos bounced back after a tough four-match road stretch with a superb showing Thursday night, handing Fresno State its first three-set loss since early September behind a reinvigorated team mentality and strong team play.
“We kind of put in a new theme and just battled,” Lobo head coach Jeff Nelson said. “We have a good team and they are good kids and they work hard. … I think tonight they did a really good job.”
After falling in three sets in both of their road matches last week, New Mexico (10-9, 3-3 Mountain West) returned the favor against Fresno State (10-10, 2-4).
The Lobos hit .302 as a team, converting 39 kills on 96 attempts with only 10 errors. The 10 errors are the second-fewest by the team this season, and helped fuel UNM’s efficient dismantling of Fresno State.
“They passed outstanding and managed the ball well,” Nelson said of the Lobos. “When you pass that well, you’re not going to make as many errors.”
House’s performance highlighted the team effort, as she followed up a Saturday’s 11-kill showing vs. Wyoming with 13 kills against the Bulldogs.
Henderson and Gullatt both chipped in eight kills apiece, and Devanne Sours contributed seven kills. Hannah Johnson, steady as ever, paced the team with 34 assists.
New Mexico even received strong play out of its libero position, as Ashley Kelsey started and finished the game in the clash jersey. Kesley had seven blocks on the evening, one behind team-leader Julia Warren.
“I liked Ashley Kelsey,” Nelson said. “… We knew we were having libero issues so we let them [Kelsey and defensive specialists Mercedes Pacheco and Stephanie Chavez] battle and after battling all week they were super close so we just went with that tonight.”
New Mexico took control early in set one, going up 6-4 quickly before expanding its lead to 13-9 via a 5-1 run. The Lobos continued to build on that streak, reeling out a 5-2 run to go up 18-12 on the Bulldogs.
Fresno State would post a late 5-1 run to draw to within three points at 24-21, but UNM would prevail behind a set-clinching kill by Sours.
The Lobos registered a clean sheet in the set, hitting .464 with 13 kills and no errors on 28 attempts. House had five or her 13 kills in the first frame.
Set two started off evenly enough, with both teams tied at 6 in the early going. But then both teams started trading runs: 5-0 Fresno State, 5-0 New Mexico and then 3-0 Fresno State, 3-0 New Mexico.
The Lobos would eventually emerge with the advantage after the volleying, and answered another Fresno State run — this one 4-1 — with a go-ahead 5-1 spurt. The Bulldogs managed to tied the set late at 23-all, but kills by House and Sours sealed the set 25-23.
House had another five kills in the second set, and Henderson and Gullatt combined for three block solos as Fresno State hit just .157 in the frame.
New Mexico continued to apply the pressure coming out of the break, going up 8-5 on Fresno State. A 5-1 Bulldog run would give them a lead at 12-11, which they extended to 17-16. But the Lobos would finish the set on a 7-2 run, winning the final stanza 25-22.
Gullatt and Henderson did most of their damage in the third set, with five kills apiece.
The Lobos return to action Saturday for their “Lobos Love Pink” match vs. UNLV at 1 p.m. There will be a silent auction benefiting the UNM Cancer Center, and the first 300 fans will receive pink rally towels.