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| Senior Day | |||||||||||
| Devanne Sours #1 • OH • Tatum, N.M. • Tatum HS Julia Warren #5 • OH/L • Albuquerque, N.M. • La Cueva HS Cassie House #12 • OH • Rio Rancho, N.M. • Cleveland HS Marisa Doran #18 • OH • Orange, Calif. • Irvine Valley College |
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Wednesday • 7:30 p.m. MT
Saturday • 2 p.m. MTAs the 2016 season comes to a close, the Lobos are looking to send their seniors out on top.
The University of New Mexico volleyball team is slated to play a pair of matches in the penultimate week of the season, traveling to Nevada for a Wednesday contest before hosting San Diego State in Johnson Center on Saturday for Senior Day.
With the season coming to a close, the Lobos (14-15, 4-11 MW) are aiming to close with a flourish. The team hopes to send their seniors out with a bang as they play the Wolf Pack (18-9, 9-6) and close the week with a match against the Aztecs (15-14, 7-8), who they face for the first time this season.
Although New Mexico has just three more matches this the season, posting a strong finish — and, perhaps a winning record — remain an important goal for the Lobos.
If the Lobos can win their final three matches, they would finish 17-15 for their ninth winning season under head coach Jeff Nelson. After this week’s split slate, UNM closes its season next Tuesday on the road vs. UNLV.
For New Mexico, its three senior outside hitters are the key to a strong finish as they play their final match in Johnson Center on Saturday.
Julia Warren has been on hot streak in November, posting a superb 28-kill, 14-dig outing in the Lobos’ 3-2 loss to Utah State last Saturday. Currently fifth in career digs, Warren, out of Albuquerque, has been playing exceptionally well after missing a portion of the season with a knee injury.
She has 10 double-doubles this season, tied for second most in the MW.
Additionally, Devanne Sours and Cassie House can continue to produce for the Lobos.
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| Julia Warren |
Sours is just 43 kills from 1000 in her career and ranks eighth in career attempts. The Tatum, N.M., native has compiled 1082.5 career points as she continues to work on her second bachelor’s degree.
House can also continue to move up the record books and can potentially climb to sixth in career kills by the end of her senior campaign. The Rio Rancho product is currently eighth with 1,129 kills and ranks sixth in career attempts (3,010) and 10th in career points (1316.5).
All three in that group has had stretches of tremendous play during the season, and when all three are clicking at the same time, New Mexico has proven to be a very productive team.
Additionally, the Lobos will be honoring senior Marisa Doran, who came to UNM last fall via Irvine Valley College. A key player for the Lobos’ beach squad, Doran has provided solid play on the hardwood.
Beyond their corps of senior pinhitters, the Lobos are also looking to couple of other upperclassmen for strong performances.
Redshirt junior setter Lise Rugland has been playing strong lately, posting 67 assists last time out against Utah State. It’s the most assists in a single match since 1999.
Similarly, redshirt junior libero Ashley Kelsey has been playing very well, tallying a career-best 28 digs vs. Utah State. She’s quickly closing on a milestone, currently sitting with 994 career digs. She can become the second player this season, along with Warren, to eclipse the 1,000-dig plateau.
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| Devanne Sours |
On the other side of the net, the Lobos are facing a some good teams looking for strong finishes of their own.
Nevada has posted some strong wins this season, but those wins are coupled with a number of less-than-stellar losses. The Wolf Pack picked up a win against Boise State in Boise and swept the season series against Wyoming, but they’ve also lost twice to Utah State.
New Mexico has never lost to Nevada, winning all eight of the contest between the two programs since the Wolf Pack joined the Mountain West in 2012. Nevada has won just three sets all-time against the Lobos.
San Diego State is 15-14 overall, but it’s struggled since mid October, going just 3-7 over their last 10 matches. San Diego State does have wins over Wyoming and Nevada, but that’s paired against losses to San José State and Fresno State.
The Aztecs lead the all-time series 36-20, and have won nine of the last 12 meetings between the two schools. New Mexico is 2-1 at home vs. SDSU since 2013, but the Aztecs claimed a 3-0 win in Albuquerque last season as they swept the season series from New Mexico.
Fans can follow @UNMVolley on Twitter and Instagram for information and updates on the team!