Washington Box Score | San José State Box Score
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Rain or shine, the Lobos’ fire can’t be extinguished.
The 15th-ranked University of New Mexico beach volleyball team won its fourth- and fifth-straight duals on a rainy Saturday in Northern California, defeating Washington 5-0 and San José State 4-1 as it wrapped up its four-game road swing.
Winners of 13 out of their last 14 games, the Lobos (16-4) continued their torrid play at Livermore Community Park, knocking off the Huskies (1-1) before turning around to beat the Spartans (6-10).
“I’m very proud of our performances today and the improvement of Lobo beach volleyball,” head coach Jeff Nelson said after the matches. “… Everyone put up good numbers all weekend.”
Including wins over Pacific and Sacramento State on Friday, New Mexico has been on a tear over the last four weeks, which started on March 13 in a 4-1 victory over San José State in Phoenix. Since then, the Lobos have exploded onto the national scene, emerging in the national polls as they continue to win.
New Mexico only loss during their run was to No. 6 Arizona in Tucson, but UNM has followed that with a second winning streak that was punctuated by Saturday’s victories.
The Lobos return to action on Friday, as they head to Fort Worth, Texas, for the Cowtown Classic. New Mexico will play host TCU on Friday before taking on No. 2 USC and ULM on Saturday.
No. 15 New Mexico 5, Washington 0
After Friday night’s sweep of Sacramento State – the Lobos’ first-ever sweep against an established Division I team – New Mexico took no time adding its second.
The Lobos rolled by a third-year Washington team, picking four of their five points in straight sets.
“We opened the day with a very confident and solid performance in every position against Washington,” Nelson said. “I really thought we battled well and played solid ball under very adverse conditions. It rained through every round of play.”
Although it was the Huskies season opener, UW is a perennial top-25 program indoors and has maintained a presence in the national beach polls all year. After debuting at No. 11 in DiG Magazine preseason poll, Washington is still receiving votes in the most recent edition.
But the the Lobos, ranked 15th in the most recent DiG poll, used their increasing knowledge and acumen in the sand to dispatch the Huskies.
“Washington was big and very athletic,” Nelson said. “I felt we managed the ball and chose our shots very well.”
Eastyn Baleto & Marisa Doran scored first for UNM, winning the No. 4 court 21-18, 21-13 over Melanie Wade & Justice Magraw.
Adding another point was the fifth-seeded duo of Maddie Mayfield & Carson Heilborn, which rebounded from a second-set loss for a 21-15, 21-23, 15-4 victory over Destiny Julye & Lindsay Chalmers.
Hannah Johnson & Julia Warren scored the game-winning point for New Mexico after the switch to the second flight of pairs as they knocked off Lianna Sybeldon & Bailey Tanner 21-18, 21-17 on the No. 3 court.
New Mexico made it a sweep in the final flight, where its No. 1 team of Ashley Kelsey & Cassie House won 25-23, 23-21 over Tia Scambray & Crissy Jones and its No. 2 team of Devanne Sours & Lise Rugland won 21-16, 21-19 over Cassie Strickland & Courtney Schwan.
The Lobos’ exhibition team of Allie Askew & Chloe Crappell added their own victory, coming from behind for a 9-21, 21-19, 18-16 win over Jade Finau & Melanie Wade.
It’s the ninth sweep in program history, and moved UNM to 4-1 vs. Pac-12 opponents on the year.
No. 15 New Mexico 4, San José State 1
The Lobos had little time to celebrate their win over the Huskies as their match vs. the Spartans started immediately after.
But New Mexico continued to roll, securing its second victory this season over an improving San José State squad.
“In round two we had a rematch and conference rivalry with San José State,” Nelson said. “We won the first three points so the match was over before the ones and twos went out.”
Similar to the Lobos’ rapid development, the Spartans have experienced their own renaissance this season, going from 0-26 in their first three years to 6-10, with a win over nationally ranked Cal last week. And while SJSU and UNM aren’t part of the MW – the conference doesn’t sponsor beach – the young rivarly between the two schools has provided strong results.
But, New Mexico proved too much on Saturday, jumping out to a quick lead behind its Nos. 4 and 5 pairs.
Mayfield & Heilborn struck first for the Lobos, as they claimed the No. 5 court 21-11, 21-10 over the Spartans’ Nandyala Gama & Julie Sam.
Baleto & Doran added to the team’s lead with a win on the fours court, where they dispatched Julia Golbeck & Luiza Andrade 21-15, 21-19. They are now 19-1 on the season, with 15th straight-set wins.
After the switch to the second flight, Johnson & Warren sealed up another match, capturing the dual via a 21-9, 21-18 win over Lyndi Scholl & Tyanna Roy on the No. 3 court. It’s the fourth straight match the pair clinched a win for the Lobos.
New Mexico kept the pressure on in the final flight, as Rugland & Sours rallied from a set down to defeat Allison Meehan & Jamie Hirai 17-21, 21-16, 15-6 on the No. 2 court.
“I was afraid we might let up [after the switch], but Dev and Lise started slow and came back to win in a great effort,” Nelson said.
They’re now 12-2 on the year, with only one loss (an injury-shortened setback to CSUN) since March 13.
The only point the Lobos lost was on the top-seeded court, where House & Kelsey fell 21-16, 21-14 to Hana Tresnáková & Julia Menhart.
On the exhibition court, SJSU’s Summer Avery & Breann Robinson defeated Askew & Crappell 12-21, 21-19, 15-9.