ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — After falling in what head coach Jeff Nelson called “a classic letdown” in Saturday’s afternoon match vs. Idaho, the Lobos needed to bounce back.
And behind their freshman and some key upperclassmen leadership, they certain did.
The University of New Mexico volleyball team capped its opening weekend with a dominant sweep of Fairfield Saturday night, relying on a reworked starting lineup to finish in second place in the UNM Invitational.
With newcomers Lauren Twitty and J’Kaylee Clark plus senior reserve Marisa Doran inserted in the starting lineup, the Lobos (3-1) had little trouble with the Stags (1-3), toppling the 2015 NCAA Tournament team 25-14, 25-17, 25-17.
“I really challenged them to come back tonight [after Idaho], get after it and play with more energy,” Nelson said. “And we let some of our freshman play tonight. Three of them played a lot and I thought they did a really good job.”
Between two matches Friday and Saturday afternoon’s five-set loss to Idaho, most of the Lobos’ starters had logged considerable playing time already this weekend.
With the prospect of facing a talented Fairfield squad, Nelson and his staff decided to give some of their starters a break to start to Saturday night’s match, instead looking to some other players for a spark.
And the new lineup paid dividends, as Twitty finished with 10 kills on a .368 hitting percentage and seven digs and Clark added five kills and five blocks.
“Lauren Twitty came up big in this match,” Nelson said. “J’Kaylee Clark had a solid match with decent serving. So I was really happy about that.”
A couple of usual starters in senior Julia Warren and redshirt junior Ashley Kelsey did start and helped guide UNM past the Stags.
Warren, UNM’s captain, posted another strong all-around performance, registering six kills, nine digs and a pair of blocks. Kelsey continued to shine at the libero position with a game-high 12 digs and even added an ace and a kill on a misplayed overpass.
“I was really pleased with AK,” Nelson said of Kelsey. “She was on everyone’s All-Tournament ballot and led the tournament in digs. I couldn’t be prouder of her because that’s the level she’s capable of playing at.”
Both Warren and Kelsey were named to the UNM Invitational All-Tournament Team along with senior Cassie House, who entered in the third set and finished with four errorless kills on six attempts.
Elsewhere, Carson Heilborn also had a solid match setting, dishing out 30 assists, while Mariessa Carrasco (five kills) and Devanne Sours (four kills) chipped in offensively. Jessica Leo also made her Lobo debut, serving Fairfield tough and compiling two digs.
“Team chemistry is really good, they’re all pulling together,” Nelson said.
Overall, the Lobos dominated Fairfield statistically, including big advantages in kills (40 to 32), hitting percentage (.341 to .076), digs (38 to 24) and blocks (7.0 to 2.0).
The match opened up with the Stags taking an early 7-5 lead. But UNM responded with five unanswered points to go up 10-7 and never looked back, closing the set on a 12-3 run to win 25-14.
Warren and Twitty both had four kills each in the opening frame as New Mexico hit .321 to Fairfield’s -.026 success rate.
The Lobos continued to apply the pressure in set two, jumping out to a commanding 10-2 lead. However, Fairfield used an 11-5 run to come to within two points at 13-15, and the Stags managed to stay close at 17-19.
But Twitty ended any thought of a Fairfield comeback, adding two kills during a set-clinching 6-0 to fuel UNM to a 25-17 set win.
The Lobos hit .414 in the set, with Twitty notching five kills and Carrasco four.
After intermission, New Mexico maintained the pressure, leaping out to a 13-4 lead. The Lobos would extend their advantage to 20-8, and eventually put the Stags away 25-17.
Arizona State’s Oluoma Okaro was named Tournament MVP, and was joined by teammate Kylie Pickrell on the All-Tournament team. Also making the team were Kaela Straw and Sarah Sharp of tournament champion Idaho and Skyler Day of Fairfield. New Mexico was second in the team standings, ahead of Arizona State (2-1), Fairfield (1-3) and Abilene Christian (0-4).
UNM is back in action next Friday as they head to Tampa, Florida, for the USF Invitational. The Lobos will play Stetson and South Florida on Friday, followed by Western Carolina on Saturday.