Match Notes | Arizona Broadcast on the Pac-12 Network
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Friday | Tucson, Ariz. New Mexico vs. CSUN • 12:30 p.m. Saturday | Tucson, Ariz. New Mexico vs. CSU Bakersfield • 11 a.m. MT |
Winners of seven straight matches, the Lobos are one of the hottest teams in the nation.
They’ll look to keep bringing the heat this weekend in the Arizona desert.
The University of New Mexico beach volleyball team is aiming to continue its winning ways at the Wildcat Spring Challenge as it plays CSUN and No. 7 Arizona on Friday and CSU Bakersfield on Saturday.
After sweeping its home slate last weekend, the Lobos (10-3) are riding a wave of momentum that has propelled them into the national spotlight. New Mexico is currently receiving votes in the 10-team AVCA poll.
“I think they’re playing more and more confident with each match, but we have to be careful not to be overconfident,” head coach Jeff Nelson said. “But I think they’re improving and playing more confident … All we can look to do is build and continue with that going into this weekend. This is probably our toughest weekend yet.”
This weekend’s tournament is aptly called a challenge. For the first time this season, UNM is playing established beach programs in all of its matches, including a nationally televised showdown with the seventh-ranked Wildcats.
The Lobos’ match against Arizona at 4:30 p.m. MT on Friday will be shown nationally on the Pac-12 Network and online at Pac-12.com/live.
“Having the match on the Pac-12 Network makes it even more fun,” Nelson said. “… It’s great for us for so many reasons. It’s great for recruiting, and it’s great for visibility.”
But between the excitement of their television debuts, the Lobos, playing in just their second season of beach volleyball, have their work cut out against veteran programs like Arizona (5-1 in its third year), CSUN (1-5 in its third year) and CSU Bakersfield (2-4 in its fourth year).
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| Marisa Doran |
“I think we’re going to have three really challenging matches,” Nelson said. “Obviously, Arizona is ranked seventh and they’re strong. We played them last year and they’re a really good program. I think it will make for an exciting weekend.”
New Mexico will look to counter with its balanced attack that has produced eight wins in its last nine matches, including a 4-1 triumph over Arizona State last Saturday.
Eastyn Baleto & Marisa Doran have been the steadiest tandem for UNM, going a flawless 13-0 out of the No. 4 position to open the season. They’ve already more than doubled the program record for consecutive pairs wins, which was five straight.
However, two other teams have also surpassed that benchmark during the Lobos’ current streak, as the No. 2 pair of Lise Rugland & Devanne Sours have won seven straight and the No. 3 pair of Hannah Johnson & Julia Warren have claimed six straight.
Those three courts have been key for New Mexico, picking up points in bunches during the season.
New Mexico’s No. 5 pair of Carson Heilborn & Maddie Mayfield has also done well, going 8-4 this season.
UNM’s top-seeded duo of Cassie House & Ashley Kelsey have gone 5-3, taking on the best of every opponent. They were the only team to drop a point last weekend, but showed well in their setback to Arizona State.
“I like the pairs right now,” Nelson said. “… We have some pairs that are really comfortable right now and hopefully they can continue to improve together.”
On the other side of the net, New Mexico will have to contend with teams that are looking for wins of their own.
Currently sitting within the cutoff for the eight-team NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships in May, No. 7 Arizona has control of its destiny. But the 5-1 Wildcats haven’t played since March 12 when they picked up their only loss of the year, a 3-2 loss at UCLA.
UNM and UA share two common opponents, Colorado Mesa and California, and posted very similar results. The Lobos swept Colorado Mesa three times and beat Cal 3-2 on a neutral court, while the Wildcats swept CMU once and topped Cal 3-2 in Tucson.
CSUN is just 1-5 on the season, but the Matadors have played a difficult schedule under head coach (and former Lobo indoor assistant) Jeff Stork. After defeating CSU Bakersfield 3-2 in their season opener, the Matadors have lost road matches to No. 3 UCLA, No. 4 Florida State, No. 6 Long Beach State and No. 10 Grand Canyon.
CSU Bakersfield heads to Tucson with a 2-4 record, with wins against Concordia-Irvine and CSUN (CSU Bakersfield and CSUN have split their two matches so far). The Roadrunners are powered by their No. 1 duo, which has gone 5-1 to start the season, but the Roadrunners have had limited consistency in all other positions, with no other court above .500.
Fans can follow @UNMBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of New Mexico and check GoLobos.com each evening for a full recap.