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Friday • 12 p.m. MTAfter storming to seven consecutive wins, the Lobos are aiming to finish their season with a bang.
A four-matches-in-two-states bang.
The surging University of New Mexico beach volleyball team is looking to extend its current run of success this weekend, playing two matches at Arizona State on Friday before returning to Albuquerque for a Saturday doubleheader.
Winners of seven straight and 11 of their last 13 matches, the Lobos (14-9) will head to Tempe to play No. 19 Arizona State (12-14) and No. 20 California (13-7) on Friday. They will then come back to the Duke City for two matches against Air Force, which is trying out beach volleyball.
“We’ve got two big matches Friday, and then Saturday, it’s the seniors last matches,” New Mexico head coach Jeff Nelson said. “It’s big games on Friday and more emotional games on Saturday.”
With the regular season coming to end this week, the Lobos know they can finish their third season of beach volleyball on a high note.
They’ve torn through their schedule over the past month, racking up the wins and the momentum as they head down the homestretch. Four wins this weekend would eclipse the program record in single-season wins.
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| Marisa Doran |
But, more importantly, a strong performance this week would underscore the development of the program, which struggled late during its breakout 2016 season and had trouble opening strong this season.
“A lot of our players are indoor players, so as we get deeper into the season, they’re getting into their game better and more experienced,” Nelson said. “I just think they’re playing more consistently in their matches right now than they were earlier in the year.”
That consistency has been the story for New Mexico during its current run.
During the team’s winning streak, UNM has dropped just five of a possible 35 points, registering three sweeps over the past two weeks. On the season, New Mexico has totaled nine 5-0 wins.
Remaining steady during this week’s roller coaster of volleyball will be the key for the Lobos, who have four or their five pairs sitting with at least 14 wins on the season.
At the No. 5 position, Julia Warren & Lauren Twitty have been the epitome of consistency over the last three weeks, stringing together eight straight wins. It’s the second-longest pairs winning streak in program history.
“Lauren & Julia have really gotten hot,” Nelson said. “… The two of them have really come on and have are really winning a lot of matches and winning decisively, too.”
New Mexico has also gotten strong results this season from its pairs at the Nos. 2 and 3 positions.
Seven matches in April, seven wins in April. #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/pdbAv9iTbq
— UNM Beach Volleyball (@UNMBeachVB) April 17, 2017
At the 2’s, Devanne Sours & Lise Rugland won four straight last weekend in Birmingham en route to a 17-6 record on the year. At the 3’s, Marisa Doran & Eastyn Baleto are 16-6 this season, having won 11 of their last 13 matches.
“Marisa & Eastyn, they were our strongest combo last year and they probably had their best win of the year on Saturday,” Nelson said. “They are getting a lot of wins for us.
“We’re also getting a lot wins at the 2’s, too. Devanne & Lise have done a really good job and I think had a really good weekend.”
Additionally, the Lobos’ top tandem of Cassie House & Ashley Kelsey have played some of their best volleyball recently, having won eight of their last 10. At 14-9 on the season, the tandem is in the hunt for a berth at the 2017 USA Volleyball Collegiate Beach Championships, a 24-team pairs championship in mid-May.
However, before the Lobos can look too far ahead, they have to contend with a challenging final week of action.
Both Arizona State and California have played formidable schedules, with the Sun Devils winning the first meeting vs. UNM in March. Both teams are also ranked the DiG Magazine Poll.
“I think both matches are going to be really close and really exciting and I’d like to get both of them,” Nelson said. “But I want us to play our best ball this weekend.”
Along with its trip west, New Mexico will also face a scrimmaging Air Force squad twice on Senior Day. In between the 10 a.m. match and the 1 p.m. match, the Lobos will honor their four graduating seniors, Doran, Rugland, Sours and Warren.
Fans can follow @UNMBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of the Lobos!