Complete Scores | Postgame Interview
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Even though they’ll play 24 of their 28 matches on the road, the Lobos might want to play at home more often.
The University of New Mexico beach volleyball team tore through its competition this weekend as it posted a perfect record in its only home tournament of the season. The Lobos beat Colorado Mesa 5-0, Arizona State 4-1 and in-state rival New Mexico State 5-0 on Saturday.
New Mexico shined bright under fantastic weather Friday and Saturday at Lucky 66 Bowl, riding an enthusiastic crowd and tremendous team play to seven straight victories in just its second season as a sport.
“It was a beautiful day — you couldn’t have a better day for beach volleyball,” New Mexico head coach Jeff Nelson said. “It was fun out here. The atmosphere was really great and the crowd was big. … I couldn’t really ask for much more than what we got out of this weekend.”
Between the crowd and the Lobos’ spectacular play, no one really could have asked for more out of UNM. The Lobos extended their winning streak to seven games and dominated every match this weekend, capturing all of their match points in sweeps.
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| Devanne Sours |
This weekend’s faultless record also moved New Mexico to 10-3 on the season, almost a complete turnaround from last year’s inaugural campaign that ended 3-11.
“I’m really excited about the turnaround,” Nelson said. “It’s awesome. People are excited about it and I think that we’re getting good things from everywhere.”
The Lobos are back in action next Friday as they head to Tucson, Ariz., for the Wildcat Spring Challenge. UNM will play CSUN and host Arizona Friday, with the Arizona match broadcast on the Pac-12 Arizona Network. New Mexico also plays CSU Bakersfield on Saturday,
Match 1: New Mexico 5, Colorado Mesa 0
The Lobos swept Colorado Mesa (1-9) on the opening day of the season and added a second sweep on Friday. The third matchup was no different.
New Mexico easily dispatched the Mavericks to open Saturday’s tripleheader, winning every court in two sets.
“We’ve faced them a couple of times already this season, but it’s always good to match up again because their team is improving every time we play them,” assistant coach Pauline Manser said.
Devanne Sours & Lise Rugland got the Lobos off to a quick start on the No. 2 court, running by the Mavericks’ Taylor Woods & Erin Perez 21-11, 21-15. They were followed by Eastyn Baleto & Marisa Doran on the fours court, who were 21-15, 21-17 winners against CMU’s Mackenzie Edwards & Gabi Dias.
After the switch to the second flight of courts, New Mexico kept soaring, winning the No. 1 court as Cassie House & Ashley Kelsey defeated Hana Peterman & Naomi Pinnecoose 21-10, 21-17.
Hannah Johnson & Julia Warren followed up with a gutsy 21-15, 21-16 win over Kricket Adleman & Megan Gianinetti that saw Johnson tweak her ankle midway through the first set.
New Mexico sealed up the sweep with a 21-11, 21-17 win from Carson Heilborn & Maddie Mayfield over Natalee Todd & Racheal Moralez.
The Lobos even claimed the exhibition court, as Jackie Baro & Sami Reynolds knocked off Celeste Henderson & Alyssa Chutka in three sets, 21-23, 21-13, 15-7.
Match 2, New Mexico 4, Arizona State 1
Although New Mexico had already edged ASU 3-2 on the Sun Devils’ home court on March 4, Nelson and his team knew that revenge would definitely be a factor in Saturday’s title card.
And while Arizona State (5-5) had an equalizer as motivation, the Lobos had their crowd as motivation.
The boisterous and supportive crowd proved helped key New Mexico to its 4-1 win, powering the Lobos through the first flight of courts and onto victory.
“I think the crowd played a big role, especially in the first round,” Nelson said. “Both games [on courts 2 and 4] were at 19 all and we turned 20 and 21 quick on both sides. The crowd was loud and into it, I really think it helped us get the edge and we seemed to just go after it through the ASU match.”
On the twos court, Sours & Rugland benefited from the crowd as they played right next to the fans and relied on their support for a 21-19, 21-13 win over ASU’s Kwyn Johnson & Sydney Palmer.
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| Marisa Doran |
Baleto & Doran also received considerable support in their 21-19, 21-16 win over Mia Rivera & Jourdan Parnell on the No. 4 court.
New Mexico clinched the sweep of the Sun Devils on the No. 3 court, where Johnson (on a taped ankle) & Warren bounced Madison Berridge & Bethany Wedepohl 21-19, 21-17.
On the No. 5 court, Maddie Mayfield & Carson Heilborn helped New Mexico improve from their earlier 3-2 win with their 20-17, 21-17 win over Blair Robalin & Logan Rae.
“Arizona State is great and they’re really well coached,” Nelson said. “We just felt like we’d have to give it everything we had today. I just really liked [UNM’s players’] energy and I just thought that we were really ready and really focused this weekend.”
The Sun Devils managed to stave off the sweep with a win on the top-seeded court, where Bianca Arellano & Whitney Follette escaped Kelsey & House 21-19, 21-15.
ASU also earned the win on the exhibition court, as Natalie Braun & Blair Robalin defeated Allie Askew & Chloe Crappell 19-21, 21-15, 15-13.
Match 3: New Mexico 5, New Mexico State 0
Although this could one day become a great rivalry in the sand, Saturday’s match between UNM and a NM State team experimenting with a full-time sponsorship of beach volleyball had to suffice.
But it was still a good test for the Lobos as they closed out a long day of competition with a tidy sweep of the Aggies.
Warren teamed up with Sami Reynold in the No. 4 spot and got UNM on the board first as the Lobo tandem breezed by NM State’s Taylor Livoti & Ariadnne Sierra 21-8, 21-4.
Sours & Rugland posted a 21-17, 21-12 score vs. Tatyana Battle & Jordan Abalos on court two to put New Mexico up 2-0, while Mayfield & Heilborn won the match on the fives court, 21-13, 21-10 vs. Kaylee Neal & Bryn Popovich.
Baleto & Doran, moved up a spot from their familiar fours court to the No. 3 position, maintained their flawless record, beating Brianna Ainsworth & Kassandra Tohm 21-11, 21-14.
For Baleto & Doran, they’ve opened the season 13-0, winning every match they have played. It’s extends the longest pairs winning streak in program history.
House & Kelsey wrapped up the match on the No. 1 court, winning 21-16, 21-18 against Andrea Tauai & Bradley Nash.