HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – For the first time in program history, the Lobos played beach volleyball on a beach.
Playing at the Newland Street Courts on Huntington Beach, the University of New Mexico beach volleyball team picked up a pair of victories over MiraCosta College and Irvine Valley College, defeating each opponent 4-1.
Despite the change in locale – up until Monday, UNM had played all of its matches in New Mexico and Arizona – the Lobos (6-3) continued to build experience in their second year of beach volleyball, including their first ever matches on a real beach.
“It was a good day,” head coach Jeff Nelson said. “It’s our first time playing on the actual real beach, so that was kind of crazy. But it was a beautiful day and it was great fun and a great learning experience for us.”
New Mexico’s progress in the sand (both of the beach and desert variety) continued to manifest itself Monday, as the Lobos easily dispatched the California community colleges.
The duo of Eastyn Baleto & Marisa Doran continued their torrid streak on the No. 4 court to open the season, as they moved to 9-0 in pairs play.
“I thought Marisa and Eastyn looked really good today,” Nelson said. “They came out today and just completely dominated both of their matches and looked confident.”
However, the rest of the Lobos have posted positive moments during the season, and every pair won at least one match Monday.
“I think our whole team is getting better as we go,” Nelson said. “They’re getting a little more confident. I saw us come from behind a couple times this weekend. I like what’s happening.”
The Lobos also received a great treat after their matches as they met three-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor. A friend of Nelson, May-Treanor watched the Lobos’ matches and took photos with the team and players on the beach.
Match 1: New Mexico 4, MiraCosta College 1
After a long drive from Phoenix, the site of Sunday’s matches vs. Grand Canyon and San José State, the Lobos had little time to prepare for MiraCosta.
But they warmed up quickly on the breezy beach, overwhelming the Spartans 4-1.
Three of the victories were in straight sets, including a dominating performance by Baleto & Doran as they bested MiraCosta’s Madeline Sims & Mailia Sellers 21-9, 21-8 on the fours court.
“I thought they just really had a great attitude to just get out there and play hard and take care of business,” Nelson said of Baleto & Doran. “It’s the best I’ve seen them come out and be aggressive like that.”
Hannah Johnson & Julia Warren also had little trouble in their match against Shaina Lilly & Madeleine Alper on court three, winning 21-13, 21-12.
Court five proved a little trickier for New Mexico’s Carson Heilborn & Maddie Mayfield, but the Lobo tandem prevailed, winning 19-21, 21-11, 20-18 over Cady Delay & Leah McManus.
On court two, Devanne Sours & Lise Rugland continued their two-day partnership en route to 21-18, 21-8 victory.
The individuals with whom Sours and Rugland switched, Ashley Kelsey and Cassie House, respectively, also paired up Monday, but had a tougher go, falling 21-23, 21-18, 15-8 to Brianna Sizemore & Cady Francis.
However, the Lobos put a bow on their fifth victory of the season with a pair of exhibition wins against Irvine Valley, as the pairs of Chloe Crappell & Sami Reynolds and Keaton Alley & Allie Askew both secured wins in a preview of the upcoming match.
Match 2: New Mexico 4, Irvine Valley College 1
New Mexico got a sneak peak of Irvine Valley on the exhibition courts in their match vs. MiraCosta and finished the double feature with a superb team win over IVC.
As usual, Baleto & Doran led the way, topping the Lasers’ Alissa Blevins & Juju Cannon 21-10, 21-13 on court four. The duo now owns the best pairs record for a single season, topping the 8-6 record Baleto and Warren combined for last year.
It was also a special match for Doran, who played two years at Irvine Valley before transferring over to New Mexico in the fall. A two-year letterwinner for coach Tom Pestolesi, Doran was part of the the Lasers’ top team in 2015, and got the chance for a reunion as UNM took on her former school.
But, other than the homecoming for Doran, it was all business for the Lobos in their second match of the day.
Adding victories to New Mexico’s ledger were Sours & Rugland, who were 23-21, 21-16 winners over Kayla Scheevel & Hannah Matt on court two. House & Kelsey also rebounded for a win on the ones court, rallying past Hailee Earnest & Carlee Roethlisberger 21-13, 15-21, 15-10.
Johnson & Warren also posted a win on court three, staving off Olivia Aguilar & Emily Reinking 21-16, 22-20.
“I thought Hannah and Julia played pretty well,” Nelson said. “The final game got close and almost got away from them. But they had a really good day, especially for Hannah, who’s been sick all week.”
Rounding out the Lobos’ pairs where Heilborn & Mayfield, who fell 20-22, 21-19, 12-15 to Brittany Tuliau & Taylor Askins on court five.
The Lobos return to action Friday as they host their lone home tournament of the season. New Mexico will face off against Colorado Mesa, Arizona State and NM State on Friday at Saturday at Lucky 66 Bowl in Albuquerque.