When: Wyoming, Thursday at 7 p.m. | No. 15 Colorado State, Saturday at 7 p.m.
Where: Johnson Center in Albuquerque, N.M.
GoLobos.com: Recaps, Results, PhotosNotes | Wyoming Live Stats & Live Stream | CSU Live Stats & Live Stream
The Lobos are on a roll, and it’s time to take that momentum up to the Mountain West peak.
The University of New Mexico volleyball team continues its four-game homestand with one of its biggest challenges of the year as it faces Wyoming and No. 15 Colorado State this week in Johnson Center.
UNM, currently sitting fourth in the league with a 14-10 overall record and 7-4 MW record, looks to build on its recent hot streak at it hosts the third-place Cowgirls (18-6, 8-4 MW) on Thursday and the MW-leading Rams (19-3, 12-0) on Saturday.
“We’re playing much better ball,” New Mexico head coach Jeff Nelson said. “We’ve won five of the last six and I think we’re in a lot better place than we were a couple weeks ago. We’re playing good ball, finishing off opponents, winning in three and it’s given us a lot more confidence for this set of matches.”
This week presents two of the best opportunities for New Mexico to make some moves in the conference. Just 1.5 games separates UNM from second-place Boise State in the MW, and picking up both matches could put the Lobos in second by Saturday night.
New Mexico has won five of its last six matches, a run that started after it was swept in the first matches against both Wyoming and Colorado State this year.
Since then, UNM has regrouped and retooled, moving from 2-3 in the MW to 7-4.
“We’re excited about the fact that, in order to finish at the top, we have of control of our own fate,” Nelson said. “Some of the other teams don’t play each other. We have Wyoming and Colorado State at home this weekend and we have a match against Boise State on the last week.”
The Lobos’ defense has been the key in this recent run, as they’ve held their last six opponents to sub-.200 hitting percentages. UNM was especially effective last week, as it smothered both Air Force (.018 hitting percentage) and San Jose State (.078) to open its homestand.
By dint of its improved defensive performance, New Mexico has risen to third in the league in opponent hitting percentage, and still ranks fourth in blocks per set with 2.60 stuffs a set.
However, the Lobos offense has also improved as of late, including dominant performances vs. Fresno State (.302 hitting percentage) to start their run and vs. San José State (.307) last time out.
“We played well,” Nelson said of last week’s performances. “Played two really complete matches. Defense was at the forefront of that. We got some big production blocking and in in the backcourt with digs.”
Seniors Skye Gullatt and Hannah Johnson have been producing strong numbers as they look to close out their collegiate careers on top.
Gullatt continues to lead the team at the net, tallying 106 total blocks this season. She’s just 35 total blocks from a share of the all-time program record. Her offensive game is also trending up, coming off of a .520 hitting week.
Johnson is now just 282 assists from tops in program history, and is just 75 digs from 1000 in her career. She’s continued to set up the Lobos’ offense, which includes outside hitters Devanne Sours (268 kills), Julia Warren (198) and Cassie House (190).
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| Ashley Kelsey |
New Mexico’s floor defense and passing has also shown more consistency during this streak, as Ashley Kelsey continues to helm the libero position. Along with defensive specialists Mercedes Pacheco (who led UNM in digs vs. SJSU) and Stephanie Chavez, the Lobos have cut down on the errors that plagued them earlier in the year.
On the other side of the net, Wyoming rebounded last week after a rocky road trip, sweeping both its opponents in Laramie. But the Cowgirls, who lead the NCAA in total blocks, are just 2-5 in true road games.
Still one of the top teams in the MW (UW beat now-No. 12 Ohio State in August), the Cowgirls look to Kayla Slofkiss (230 kills), Laura Beach (219) and Bridget Shanahan (205) for offense, and Allison Waldvogel (398 digs), Reed Copeland (141 blocks) for defense. Copeland, a true freshman, is second in the NCAA in total blocks.
UW is solid defensively, but does struggle on offense. The Cowgirls are sixth in the MW in hitting percentage, and 10th (out of 11) in both kills and assists.
New Mexico is 19-16 at home all-time vs. Wyoming, and is 6-2 in Albuquerque under Nelson.
Colorado State has won 12 of the 16 regular-season titles in the MW, and this year is no different. CSU is nationally ranked (15th in the AVCA Coaches’ Poll), riding a 13-match win streak to a 19-3 record and No. 35 RPI.
Alex Reid leads the team with 231 kills, while preseason MW player of the year Adrianna Culbert is second with 199. Double-double (and one-time quadruple-double) machine Culbert (399 assists) helps set up the Rams’ offense with Crystal Young (455).
Jaime Colaizzi has 306 digs for Colorado State, while the Rams look to Acacia Andrews (98 total blocks) and Alex Poletto (77) on the block.
CSU leads the MW in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage and digs, and has won 36 of the last 40 matches between the two schools. But the Lobos have won twice at home vs. the Rams since 2010.
New Mexico takes on Wyoming at 7 p.m. MT Thursday, following that up with a 7 p.m. MT match vs. Colorado State on Saturday for its annual “Jam Johnson” match. Tickets are just $2 for Saturday’s match.
Follow the links at the top for the broadcast and live stats, and follow @unmvolley on Twitter for in-game updates.