ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico beach volleyball team checked in at No. 18 in the nation in the preseason edition of the DiG Magazine Beach Volleyball Poll released Thursday afternoon.
The Lobos, who return seven starters from their team that went 17-9 in 2016, remain in the 20-team DiG poll after finishing 2016 ranked in the same position. New Mexico has been ranked in every DiG poll since the third release of last year, which was published March 29.
UNM has a deep and experienced lineup, including five seniors and three juniors. Within their projected opening-weekend lineup, the Lobos have veterans Cassie House & Ashley Kelsey in the No. 1 position, Devanne Sours & Lise Rugland in the No. 2 and Marisa Doran & Eastyn Baleto in the No. 3.
New Mexico also returns Julia Warren and Jackie Baro, while adding Long Beach State transfer Carly Beddingfield and freshmen Lauren Twitty, Emily Nenninger and Lyric Ellison.
USC, winners of the inaugural NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships last May, are the preseason No. 1, followed by No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Florida State, No. 4 Pepperdine and No. 5 Hawai’i.
The Lobos play 11 matches against teams ranked in the poll, including six top-10 matches.
New Mexico opens its season next Thursday vs. Benedictine in Mesa, Arizona, before playing four matches in Phoenix against No. 11 Grand Canyon, No. 15 TCU, No. 20 Loyola Marymount and Colorado Mesa.
Fans can follow @UNMBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of the Lobos!