SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As Friday’s match came to end, one thing became clear for the Lobos: Not even the rain could temper their hot streak.
For the 11th time in its last 12 matches, the 15th-ranked University of New Mexico beach volleyball team won, completing its first day in Northern California with a 5-0 victory over Sacramento State.
After defeating Pacific 4-1 Friday afternoon to open their four-match road trip, the Lobos (14-4) continued their stellar run, surging past the Hornets (1-13) at Livermore Community Park in Sacramento.
“Tonight’s match was really good for the team,” head coach Jeff Nelson said. “Everyone played solid and we dealt with some light rain in the later matches.”
Despite playing in the rain for the first time ever, the Lobos had little trouble with Sac State or the elements as they continued both their strong overall play and their recent streak of third-set magic.
Although not as dramatic as its match vs. Pacific, where all five points in the dual went to three sets, Friday’s evening affair vs. the Hornets saw New Mexico prevail in three sets on three courts.
Both of Friday’s matches were the first time UNM won multiple points in three sets since its 3-2 win over Arizona State on opening day.
“I’m very proud of our team and especially how we battled in game threes all day,” Nelson said. “It’s great for our confidence, pulling out the close ones.”
Another confidence booster for the Lobos, if they needed one, came via the final score, as their 5-0 win marked their first-ever sweep of an established Division I program.
New Mexico had posted four sweeps already this season and three in 2015, but unlike Friday’s 5-0 win against a fourth-year Sac State squad, all of those previous sweeps came against first-year Division I teams, DII teams or scrimmaging opponents.
Carson Heilborn & Maddie Mayfield struck first for New Mexico, picking up the match’s first point in a 21-15, 16-21, 15-11 win over Kennedy Kurtz & Brigitte Murdock on the No. 5 court.
Following right behind in the three-flight match (courts 4-5, followed by 3-6 and then 1-2) was the duo of Eastyn Baleto & Marisa Doran, which won the No. 4 court 21-16, 20-22, 15-10 over Hannah Meadows & Brie Gathright.
It’s the second straight three-setter for the pair, which has improved to 17-1 overall on the season.
New Mexico clinched the match on the threes court, as Hannah Johnson & Julia Warren defeated Lexie Skalbeck & Lana Brown in straight sets, 21-19, 21-18.
Johnson & Warren now move to 13-4 on the season, and continue to mirror the Lobos’ overall record (minus one game) with wins in all but one of the team’s wins and losses in just the team’s losses.
The top two courts rounded out the sweep, as Lise Rugland & Devanne Sours topped Lauren Aikels & Morgan Stanley 21-15, 21-15 on the No. 2 court and Cassie House & Ashley Kelsey edged Sloan Lovett & Madeline Cannon 21-19, 15-21, 15-7 on the No. 1 court.
Rugland & Sours’ win was their 10th straight in complete matches, with only one loss (an injury-shortened forfeit to CSUN) since March 13.
In an exhibition match, Allie Askew & Chloe Crappell lost 21-17, 21-17 to Julia Wright & Skyler Takeda.
The Lobos close out their trip with two challenging matches Saturday as they face Washington and San José State at Livermore Community Park.
“I would like us to play with a little more urgency tomorrow in a couple of tough matches vs. UW and SJSU,” Nelson said.
First serve with the Huskies is scheduled for 10 a.m. MT, while the Lobos take on the Spartans at 1 p.m. MT.
No. 15 New Mexico 5, Sacramento State 0
1. Ashley Kelsey & Cassie House (UNM) def. Sloan Lovett & Madeline Cannon (SAC) 21-19, 15-21, 15-7
2. Devanne Sours & Lise Rugland (UNM) def. Lauren Aikels & Morgan Stanley (SAC) 21-15, 21-15
3. Hannah Johnson & Julia Warren (UNM) def. Lexie Skalbeck & Lana Brown (SAC) 21-19, 21-18
4. Eastyn Baleto & Marisa Doran (UNM) def. Hannah Meadows & Brie Gathright (SAC) 21-16, 20-22, 15-10
5. Carson Heilborn & Maddie Mayfield (UNM) def. Kennedy Kurtz & Brigitte Murdock (SAC) 21-15, 16-21, 15-11
Ext. Julia Wright & Skyler Takeda (SAC) def. Allie Askew & Chloe Crappell (UNM) 21-17, 21-17