|
|||||||||||||||||||
Match 1 • Friday • 12:30 p.m. MT
Match 2 • Friday • 6 p.m. MT
Match 3 • Saturday • 9 a.m. MTComing off some strong performances last week, the Lobos look to keep it rolling out in Texas.
The University of New Mexico volleyball team is aiming to close out tournament play with some momentum as it heads to the UT Arlington Invitational to play four matches on Friday and Saturday.
After splitting a pair of challenging matches their last time out at the Lobo Classic, the Lobos (6-3) have a chance to prepare themselves for next week’s Mountain West opener when they take on Houston Baptist, Samford, UTEP and host UT Arlington at College Park Center in Arlington.
“Our goal this weekend is to go 4-0,” 10th-year New Mexico coach Jeff Nelson said. “We feel like we should. We play a lot of good teams, middle-of-the-road kind of teams, and we need to step up and get this done and get ourselves ready to open conference next week.”
With Mountain West play quickly approaching, the Lobos are looking to translate some good volleyball from last week into more success this week.
This past week, the Lobos took down Arkansas for its second win of the year over a Power Five school before falling to No. 1 Nebraska in front of thousands of fans at WisePies Arena.
But New Mexico acquitted itself well in both matches, posting a game-turning comeback vs. the Razorbacks and matching the Cornhuskers point-for-point for the majority of two sets.
“I’m really confident about the way we played,” Nelson said. “Nebraska told us we were their toughest match of the year so far and they’ve played three top-10 teams already.”
UNM’s slate this weekend provides a different trial. Although none of their competition is of the same caliber as Nebraska or Arkansas, the Lobos can benefit from playing consistent volleyball.
“I just want to see just steady play,” Nelson said. “… I just think we need to go and play steady and play lower-error ball and get some wins and get out of there. Then we can come back and get ready to start conference because that’s going to be what it’s all about for us.”
The key for the Lobos this week is truly about consistency, especially from their offense.
The Lobos have shown they can hang with some of the best teams in the country (like in their wins over Arizona State and Arkansas). But in other matches (like losses to Idaho and South Florida), UNM hasn’t duplicated those same efforts.
For New Mexico to sweep this weekend’s schedule, its group of senior outside hitters will need to continue performing at a high level.
Cassie House and Julia Warren were tremendous at the Lobo Classic, as House paced UNM with 23 kills and Warren posted another strong all-around showing with 19 kills, 17 digs and four aces.
“Cassie House and Julia Warren both played really well last week,” Nelson said. “They both made the all-tournament team.”
The third member of that group, Devanne Sours, also contributed with a double-double vs. Arkansas. Together, that trio has led UNM with 249 of the team’s 410 kills.
More contributions from middle blockers Victoria Spragg and Mariessa Carrasco will also help the Lobos’ offense, which has continued to receive solid play from sophomore setter Carson Heilborn.
New Mexico’s defense — which has been largely successful this season, sitting second in the MW in opponent hitting percentage — can also keep improving behind libero Ashley Kelsey (142 digs) and the duo of Spragg (34 total blocks) and Carrasco (23).
On the other side of the next, UNM will have to contend with some strong competition.
The Huskies have posted a solid 8-4 start to the season, picking up wins against Toledo, Houston and San Jose State. Under head coach Trent Herman, Houston Baptist will play in the state of Texas for the fourth straight week.
UT Arlington has struggled a bit to open the year, going 3-8. The Mavericks have lost four straight and eight of their last nine. UTA is balanced on offense, receiving at least 115 kills from three players, but it is hitting just .170 on the season.
Samford has had an uneven start in 2016, having gone 2-2 to start, followed by three straight wins and then a 1-3 slide. The Bulldogs have been swept by Alabama, Wichita State and Wyoming of the Mountain West.
Under fourth-year head coach Holly Watts, UTEP has opened the season 2-7. The Miners won a pair of matches at the North Dakota Invitational, but have since dropped three straight. Seven players have notched at least 29 kills this season for a UTEP squad hitting .133 on the year.
UNM has won 33 of its last 35 matches vs. UTEP.
Fans can follow @UNMVolley on Twitter and Instagram for information and updates on the team!