ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Back in Albuquerque, the Lobos’ defense was right at home.
The University of New Mexico volleyball team opened its four-match homestand with a dominating three-set win over Air Force Tuesday night as the Lobos’ defense smothered the Falcons in Johnson Center.
Behind its stifling defense, New Mexico (13-10, 6-4 Mountain West) easily dispatched Air Force (10-15, 3-7 MW), winning by set scores of 25-18, 28-26, 25-17.
“Air Force has been a team that has really played tough this year, giving some teams good matches this year,” New Mexico head coach Jeff Nelson said. “… They are a good team when they put it together, but they didn’t tonight and we were able to exploit that.”
The Lobos’ defense was the key Tuesday night, posting 13 total blocks and holding the Academy to a .018 hitting percentage. It’s the Falcons’ lowest hitting percentage this season, and the second-most blocks by New Mexico in a three-set match this season.
“I thought our defense both in the back row and blocking were really good,” Nelson said.
Skye Gullatt led the charge with eight total blocks, while Simone Henderson added five and Hannah Johnson four.
New Mexico’s floor defense was also solid, led by Julia Warren’s game high-tying nine digs and eight apiece from Mercedes Pacheco and Ashley Kelsey.
Offensively, the Lobos received nine kills from Devanne Sours and eight from Cassie House. Henderson chipped in another seven and Johnson hit a flawless .800 with four kills, as UNM hit .219 on the match (37 kills, 16 attack errors, 96 attempts).
Air Force only had 29 kills against 27 attack errors, and the Lobos had more assists (35 to 28) and digs (48 and 35) than the Falcons. Air Force had only five total blocks.
Both teams open the match with a 6-6 tie in set one, but the Lobos claimed a decisive lead via a 9-4 run that included four Air Force errors and kills by House, Johnson and Warren. New Mexico continued to build its lead after the run, going up six at 20-14.
The Falcons closed the gap to four points at 21-17, but UNM finished on a 4-1 spurt to win 25-18.
New Mexico hit .321 on the set, with House tallying four kills. The Lobos’ defense was also clicking, limiting Air Force to a .075 success rate.
The second set also opened with a tie, as both teams marched out to a 8-8 score. UNM posted a 7-1 run to go up 15-10, but Air Force responded with 7-2 run to knot the set at 19. After ties at 21, 22 and 23, New Mexico got its first set point at 24-23.
However, Air Force refused to yield, forcing New Mexico to play through four set points until the Lobos finally captured the set 28-26.
“In game two I think we let up a little bit,” Nelson said, “but we made the plays we needed to.”
Again, UNM stifled Air Force into a .083 hitting percentage as five Lobos combined for six total blocks.
House added another four kills in the set, while Gullatt — who, along with Johnson, clinched the set with one of her seven block assists — contributed another four kills.
The Lobos came out looking to finish off the match in set three, and leaped out to a 9-5 lead. After Air Force tied the set at 9-9, New Mexico replied with a 5-1 spurt to go up 14-10, a lead it would not relinquish. The Lobos capped the match with a 7-2 surge, winning the final set 25-17.
Sours came through with four kills in the final frame, buoying the Lobos offense. But, as it was all night, UNM’s defense was the star, halting the Falcons’ offense. Air Force hit negative .208 in the set.
The Lobos return to action Thursday as they host San José State at 7 p.m. at Johnson Center for game two of their four-game homestand.