ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — After playing seven straight three-set matches to open their season, the Lobos had yet to really test their young squad in a drawn-out, duke-it-out brawl.
One five-set victory later, and they have an answer.
The University of New Mexico volleyball team won a battle Friday night, outlasting Portland 25-19, 28-30, 26-24, 22-25, 15-10 to claim its second win of the day at the Lobo Classic inside Johnson Center.
Behind stellar performances and tremendous moxie across the board, the Lobos (6-2) emerged with the victory against the Pilots (6-2), adding to its sweep of UT Arlington earlier in the day.
“It’s just a great win,” UNM head coach Jeff Nelson said. “Portland’s a really great team; they’re really well coached. I enjoyed watching them when we were scouting them.”
In a match that was just as entertaining as it was hard-fought, both teams registered strong numbers.
The Lobos defense came ahead in digs, 87 to 78, with both teams tallying eight total blocks. However, the Pilots claimed a narrow advantage in total kills (64 to 59), while UNM hit just an iota better (.198 to .195).
The most significant difference in the match was errors, as Portland compiled 58 total miscues — including 20 service errors. UP’s 20 service errors are the most by a UNM opponent in over 20 years, as San Jose State committed 21 in a match on September 28, 1996.
By comparison, the Lobos posted 45 total errors, enough to provide a winning margin in a game of mere points.
“The biggest thing was the positive energy,” sophomore outside hitter Lauren Twitty said. “There was no doubt in our minds that we weren’t going to give all we got.”
WHAT. A. MATCH.
New Mexico picks up a huge 3-2 win over Portland here at the Lobo Classic in Johnson Center! #GoLobos #UNMatched pic.twitter.com/hhhl4s5UMF
— New Mexico Volleyball (@UNMLoboVB) September 9, 2017
Twitty finished with big statistical numbers, posting career highs in kills (19) and digs (17) for her third double-double of the season.
Middle blockers Mariessa Carrasco and Victoria Spragg also contributed big statlines, logging identical offensive numbers of 12 kills and four errors on 25 swings (.320 attack percentage). Carrasco also had a game-high six blocks.
“Mimi and Vic are both having a great year so far,” Nelson said. “They’re getting after it and getting things done and. One night or the other we get a good performance, sometimes both. One of them is always firing for us.”
Freshen Hailey Rubino (seven kills, 15 digs) and Yasmin Tan (five kills, three digs, two blocks) were also productive in their first career five-setter.
Carson Heilborn finished with 49 assists, a season high.
On the defensive end, Ashley Kelsey notched 21 digs, with Twitty, Mercedes Pacheco (17 digs), Rubino and Heilborn (12) chipping in.
It’s the first time in two years that the Lobos have five players with double-figure digs.
The Lobos start off strongly, creating an early 9-5 lead as Portland committed five errors. But the Pilots would go on a 7-2 run to take a lead at 12-11, sparking a back-and-forth battle en route to a 17-16 UP advantage.
However, New Mexico would regain the lead for good at 19-17, and then finished with the final four points of the set for a 25-19 win. The Lobos would hold UP to a .043 hitting percentage in the set.
Set two was another closely fought affair, with neither team exerting much of an advantage. Portland would take a 15-13 into the media timeout, eventually expanding its lead to 17-14 to force a UNM timeout. The Pilots would then build up a 22-18 lead, but the Lobos responded with a 7-2 run to go up 25-24.
As the set extended into extra points, both teams continued to trade points. Despite two set-point opportunities, UP scored four of the final five points of the frame to emerge with a 30-28 win.
Undaunted, New Mexico kept fighting in set three, staving off an early 7-5 Portland lead to go up 11-9 after a Rubino ace. UNM would increase the margin to four at 14-10, only to have the Pilots scratch back with ties at 15, 16 and 17.
UP would even go up as much as two at 22-20, but the Lobos reeled off four points in a row — including a kill by Pacheco — to take a decisive 24-20 lead. UNM would hold on to win the set 26-24 after Portland misfired on consecutive shots.
Portland come out firing in the fourth set, building a quick 11-7 lead. But a 5-1 run brought UNM back even at 12, spurring some more seesaw play with four more ties. A 4-1 spurt put Portland up 21-19, to which New Mexico answered with a 4-1 spurt to tie the set up at 22.
However, the Pilots would capitalize on three straight UNM attack errors to win the set 25-22.
Facing their first fifth set of the season, the Lobos remained composed, dueling to five ties in the first 14 serves. But Rubino went cross court to give UNM the 8-7 lead at the side change, and the Lobos finished with seven of the final nine points to win the set 15-10.
“It was really nice in the fifth game to get up and stay up,” Nelson said. “After the side change, we got the two-point break and we stayed up, which I thought was huge, because when you’re point for point all the way, the pressure’s always on.”
New Mexico returns to action Saturday afternoon as it faces Northern Colorado at 2 p.m. MT to close out the Lobo Classic.
Fans can follow @UNMLoboVB on Twitter and Instagram for information and updates on the team!