Box Score vs. TCU | Box Score vs. USC
FORT WORTH, Texas — The 12th-ranked University of New Mexico beach volleyball team fell in both of its matches to open the Cowtown Classic on Friday, dropping a 3-2 match to TCU before falling 5-0 to No. 1 USC.
Although the Lobos (16-6) battled in both matches, they had their month-long hot streak halted by the Horned Frogs (16-5) and the Trojans (21-2) at the TCU Beach Volleyball Courts. Before Friday, UNM had won 13 of 14 matches dating back to March 13.
“It was an extremely disappointing day for us,” head coach Jeff Nelson said. “We really came out flat and just couldn’t get it together.”
After a 10-hour drive from Albuquerque to Fort Worth on Thursday — the team’s fourth long-distance driving trip this season — the Lobos couldn’t match TCU in their first dual of the day, and USC’s experience proved enough in their second dual.
“We lost some very close games and it was heartbreaking,” Nelson said. “We were just flat.”
But despite the losses, the Lobos continued to gain experience in just their second season of beach volleyball. As the youngest team ranked the most recent DiG Magazine poll, New Mexico has played with an exceptional amount of poise.
And while inexperience did catch up with UNM on Friday, The Lobos will get a chance to rebound on Saturday as they wrap up the Cowtown Classic vs. ULM at 8 a.m. MT.
Match 1: TCU 3, No. 12 New Mexico 2
New Mexico’s recent run of success ended against TCU, but the Lobos made the match a battle, forcing three courts to three sets. However, it was the two courts that the Horned Frogs swept that made the difference.
Although a couple of impressive streaks continued one more match for a couple of New Mexico tandems, the Lobos couldn’t maintain their team streak in their weekend opener.
TCU opened with a sweep on the No. 5 court, as the Horned Frogs’ duo of Molly Scheel & Ariah Palter defeated the Lobos’ Carson Heilborn & Maddie Mayfield 21-8, 21-11.
New Mexico managed to draw even with TCU on the No. 4 court, where Eastyn Baleto & Marisa Doran claimed a come-from-behind win over Blaire Pickens & Jordan Terral, 16-21, 21-18, 16-14.
After the match switched from the first flight of courts (Nos. 4-5) to the second flight (Nos. 1-2-3), the Lobos remained competitive but couldn’t hold off TCU as they fell on the ones and threes court.
On the top court, Cassie House & Ashley Kelsey fought a marathon in the first set vs. Michelle McNamee & Sarita Mikals, but fell 31-29 in the opening frame and 21-18 in the second.
Hannah Johnson & Julia Warren also put together a good fight, rallying from a set down to force a third set. But the UNM pair was unable to push through in the final set vs. Jaelyn Greene & Jillian Bergeson, falling 21-19, 17-21, 15-12.
The Lobos did pick up a point on the No. 2 court, as Lise Rugland & Devanne Sours knocked off Shane Peters & Olivia Canales 17-21, 21-18, 15-11. It was the duo’s sixth win a row.
The Lobos’ exhibition team of Sami Reynolds & Jackie Baro added a victory, sweeping Clare Ford & Sierra Kile 21-12, 21-16.
Match 2: No. 1 USC 5, No. 12 New Mexico 0
The Lobos returned to action immediately after playing TCU as they took on the top-ranked team in the nation.
Arguably the hottest team in the nation, USC won its 17th straight dual vs. New Mexico. But the Lobos put up a fight, including a pair of three-set battles in the first flight of matches.
“In the USC match, we came out strong and took 4 and 5 to a third game but couldn’t get the point,” Nelson said. “USC is No. 1 for a reason: They are very good. I think we played a little better [than vs. TCU] and had chances to score.”
On the No. 4 court, Baleto & Doran took the Trojans’ Abril Bustamante & Jenna Belton to the edge, taking the first set before falling in three sets, 23-25, 21-14, 15-10.
It’s only the second loss for Baleto & Doran all season, who saw their six-match winning streak end. They are now 20-2 on the season.
New Mexico also put forth a strong effort on the No. 5 court, where Heilborn & Mayfield took USC’s Jo Kremer & Zoë Nightingale to three sets, eventually falling 21-12, 19-21, 15-7.
In the second flight of the dual, the Trojans took control, winning the top three courts in straight sets.
House & Kelsey fell 21-7, 21-8 to Sara Hughes & Kelly Claes on the No. 1 court, while Rugland & Sours dropped a 21-17, 21-10 decision to Sophie Bukovec & Alexa Strange on the No. 2 court. On the No. 3 court, Johnson & Warren lost 21-12, 21-14 to Allie Wheeler & Nicolette Martin.
Baro & Reynolds also fell on the exhibition court to Terese Cannon & Katrina Kernochan, 21-12, 21-10.