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Friday • 1 p.m. MT
Friday • 6 p.m. MT | Saturday • 11 a.m. MT
Saturday • 9 a.m. MTTo many, Birmingham, Alabama, might not sound like a beach destination. But for the streaking Lobos, any place is a good place to play.
The University of New Mexico beach volleyball team is aiming to build on its current run of success as it heads to Alabama to compete in the Blazer Beach Duals this Friday and Saturday in Birmingham.
After stretching their hot streak to seven wins in their last nine matches, the Lobos (10-9) will look to continue winning when they play Lincoln Memorial (5-9), UT Martin (0-6) and host UAB (9-14) at the West Campus Athletic Complex.
“We should be playing at our best,” UNM assistant coach Pauline Manser said. “We’re running out of time this season, so it’s important that we’re focused and go into this one with everything at our disposal and pushing as hard as we can to get all four wins.”
With just two more weeks remaining in the regular season, the Lobos can finish their 2017 campaign on a high if they can keep playing at a high level.
New Mexico has performed exceptionally well over the past few weeks, coming together after posting a 3-7 record in the early goings of the season.
And while the Lobos did open their season with a challenging slate that featured nine matches against nationally ranked teams, their early trials have translated to success over the past few weeks of competition.
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“We’re now into the middle of the season and we’re game ready,” Manser said. “I think the girls have worked out a few things along the way, being a bit more tactical, trying to be more consistent through matches.”
This weekend is shaping up to be another productive weekend for New Mexico as it heads to Birmingham. Bolstered by its burgeoning consistency, the Lobos have had multiple pairs rack up the wins during their recent run.
Julia Warren & Lauren Twitty have reeled off five straight victories from the No. 5 position, and have climbed to within one win of the team lead. They’re currently 12-5 on the season.
Just ahead of that tandem in the win column are the duos of Devanne Sours & Lise Rugland and Marisa Doran & Eastyn Baleto.
Out of the No. 2 spot, Sours & Rugland have compiled a at 13-6 record, and had won nine of their last 12 matches. They stumbled at home vs. Colorado Mesa last weekend, but have otherwise been rolling since mid-March.
Doran & Baleto have also been on a tear recently, notching eight wins in their last nine matches. Currently sitting at 13-5 on the season, the pair has been sweeping opponents left and right, with seven two-set sweeps since March 17.
However, New Mexico has been receiving contributions across the board during its run.
UNM’s top-ranked partnership of Cassie House & Ashley Kelsey own an 11-8 record on the season and have picked up points against some of the best pairs in the NCAA.
Bounce it
We’re off to Alabama tomorrow for the Blazer Beach Duals! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/c0QdSi6Yp9
— UNM Beach Volleyball (@UNMBeachVB) April 12, 2017
House & Kelsey have also played some of their strongest ball over the past three weeks of action, tallying 15 sets (out of 24) where they’ve held their opponents to fewer than 15 points in a set.
The Lobos have also seen some solid play from some other tandems, including Jackie Baro & Carly Beddingfield and Victoria Spragg & Chloe Crappell. Both of those tandems picked up wins last week playing out of the No. 4 position, and have provided a measure of consistency after UNM shuffled pairings and positions a month ago.
This weekend, the Lobos will have to contend with three teams that will likely see them as the team to beat, including one squad that they’ve already beaten this season.
“I think we can’t take any team lightly,” Manser said. “… We have to go in this weekend and be firing on all cylinders and taking every match seriously.”
UNM swept Lincoln Memorial, a Division II school from Harrogate, Tennessee, in their first meeting back on March 18 at the Stetson Beach Invitational in Tavares, Florida.
Since that weekend, the Railsplitters have had a streaky season. Lincoln Memorial dropped nine of its first 11 games, but is currently riding on a three-game win streak to sit 5-9 on the season.
Tournament host UAB is 9-14 on the season, but has won five of its last eight after dropping 10 straight during March. The Blazers have wins over Austin Peay (four times), and ULM, but have also lost to Mercer (three times), Jacksonville and North Florida.
UT Martin has compiled a 0-6 record so far during its first season of beach volleyball. The Skyhawks out of Martin, Tennessee, have played just two weeks, and have been swept in every match except one.
The Lobos open the tournament Friday vs. Lincoln Memorial at 1 p.m. MT and UAB at 6 p.m. MT. They’ll resume play on Saturday with UT Martin at 9 a.m. MT and UAB at 11 a.m. MT.
Fans can follow @UNMBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of the Lobos!