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Friday • 8 a.m. MT
Friday • 2 p.m. MT
Saturday • 9 a.m. MT
Saturday • 12 p.m. MT
Saturday • 2 p.m. MTAfter back-to-back weekends in Arizona, the Lobos are going a completely different direction this week.
Instead of trekking 330 miles west, they’ve gone about 1520 mile east.
The University of New Mexico beach volleyball team heads to the East for the first time in program history as it travels to Tavares, Florida, to play in six matches at the Stetson Beach Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
The Lobos (3-5) play No. 17/RV Florida Atlantic (8-2), No. 12/8 Georgia State (6-4) and Morehead State (0-0) on Friday before turning around and playing Jacksonville State (1-10), No. 14/12 Stetson (2-7) and Lincoln Memorial (0-0) on Saturday.
“It’s another good weekend,” New Mexico head coach Jeff Nelson said. “I’d like to see us pick up a few wins this weekend. We’ve got some really tough matches and I think they’re going to be close again. I’d like to see us get on top of them.”
In a weekend of firsts for New Mexico — first time in the Eastern time zone, first matchup ever against all six teams — it’s not an entirely new scenario for the Lobos.
Nelson and his squad will face some very talented ranked teams, which has been a constant so far during the young season.
FAU, Georgia State and Stetson are all either ranked or receiving votes in both of the two national polls, the DiG Magazine Poll and the AVCA Poll. New Mexico is receiving votes in both polls.
Additionally, Georgia State and Stetson each qualified to the inaugural NCAA Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championships last May.
“There are three ranked teams,” Nelson said. “Two of them were in the NCAA tournament last year and we expect them to be really good. I looked at their scores and I think we’ll be competitive, but it’ll take winning that close match.”
One last practice before we head to Florida! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/iiYYNY7Hxh
— UNM Beach Volleyball (@UNMBeachVB) March 14, 2017
Winning those tight duals has been something that has eluded the Lobos so far this season, but if only by the slimmest of margins.
Two weeks ago, UNM lost 3-2 to then-No. 15 TCU and most recently fell 3-2 to then-No. 9/12 Arizona State last Sunday. Both matches came down to the final court, and in both instances, that final court came down to a third set.
This weekend projects to be similar, as New Mexico will likely have to battle for points when they play at Hickory Point Beach.
“It’s a matter of pulling out those tight matches.” Nelson said. “I don’t anybody will dominate, I think they’re going to be really good matches. We’re going to have to be our best.”
The Lobos have some partnerships that are playing strongly right now, and those duos will be looked to for scoring.
Out of the No. 1 position, Cassie House & Ashley Kelsey picked up a marquee win vs. Arizona State and currently sit 4-4 on the season playing the top tandems of every opponent.
“I’d like to see Cassie & AK really build on their big win from last weekend,” Nelson said. “I thought that win over ASU in the 1’s spot was a really big win. So I’d like to see them start building on their confidence from that win.”
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| Devanne Sours |
House & Kelsey have played many of their matches very closely — five of their eight matches featured at least one set decided by three points or fewer — and have shown the ability to challenge anyone.
Similarly, UNM’s No. 2 tandem of Devanne Sours & Lise Rugland nabbed a superb victory vs. Arizona last Sunday and have played at a high level all season.
“I thought Devanne & Lise also had a really good win against Arizona,” Nelson said. “I’d like to see them building on that and add to their confidence.”
Sours & Rugland are 5-3 on the year, and could very well play at the No. 1 position depending on matchups. Both of the Lobos top pairings have been the most steady so far this season.
Down the lineup, Nelson and his staff have solid partnerships, but the Lobos are aiming for some additional consistency in these positions.
Marisa Doran & Eastyn Baleto are 5-3 on the season playing primarily out of the No. 3 position, while Julia Warren & Lauren Twitty are also 5-3 playing mostly from the No. 5 spot. The final Lobo duo has largely been Jackie Baro & Carly Beddingfield (2-4), with that tandem splitting time between the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 courts.
“I’d like to see more consistency from the 4 and 5 spots,” Nelson said. “We’re winning some good matches but then we’ve been a bit inconsistent with keeping our level of play up.”
Keeping that level of play up with also be paramount with the tournament’s schedule. The Lobos play FAU at 8 a.m. MT on Friday and follow up with Georgia State at 10 a.m. MT. UNM will also play Morehead State at 2 p.m. MT on Friday.
On Saturday, New Mexico faces Jacksonville State at 9 a.m. MT, followed by Stetson at noon MT and Lincoln Memorial at 2 p.m. MT.
Fans can follow @UNMBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of the Lobos!