Lobos Fall 3-1 to Toledo at Blue/Gold Invitational

TOLEDO, Ohio — The University of New Mexico volleyball team dropped a four-set match to Toledo Friday evening, falling 21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-25 to cap the opening day of the Blue/Gold Invitational.

Despite a double-double from Lauren Twitty and three players registering double-digit digs, the Lobos (7-4) struggled to find sustained consistency against the tournament host Rockets (5-6) inside Savage Arena.

“I just think we’re just playing high and low,” UNM head coach Jeff Nelson said. “We’re not playing consistent enough to win a big match.”

With starting freshman outside hitter Hailey Rubino sidelined due to injury, the Lobos couldn’t establish much rhythm against Toledo, dropping their first match longer than three sets.

So far this season, UNM has played nine of its 11 matches to three sets, with last Friday’s 3-2 win vs. Portland as the season’s only other match longer than three sets.  

Against Toledo, Twitty led New Mexico with 14 kills, adding 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. However, she was the only Lobo to post double-figure kills as the team hit .172 in the match (43 kills, 18 errors, 145 attempts).

Mariessa Carrasco (eight kills), Carly Beddingfield (seven) and Victoria Spragg (six) also contributed, with Carson Heilborn tallying 32 assists.

Toledo managed to gain an advantage offensively, outhitting the Lobos via a .219 (57-24-151) hitting percentage.

On the defensive side, New Mexico recorded 61 digs and eight blocks.

Libero Ashley Kelsey, playing in her usual position after a stint at outside hitter earlier Friday, collected 20 digs. Mercedes Pacheco (14 digs), Twitty and Heilborn (eight) also chipped in, but the Lobos committed nine reception errors, their most this season.

Spragg (five blocks) and Heilborn (four) led UNM at the net.

The match opened evenly, with both teams playing to four ties through 10 serves. Toledo would move ahead by two points after a 4-1 spurt, but New Mexico would eventually score five in a row to claim a 17-16 advantage.

However, the Rockets would answer that with a 6-1 run, retaking the lead at 22-18. A late 3-1 surge for UNM made it 23-21, but UT finished the set off with two points for a 25-21 win.

Twitty had five kills in the set, but the Lobos only managed a .048 hitting percentage (10-8-42). Toledo posted six blocks in the set.

UNM came out firing in the second frame, taking a 10-7 lead after posting a 6-2 run. After a 6-1 run, the Lobos would expand their lead to six points at 18-12, forcing a Toledo timeout. The Rockets would cut New Mexico’s margin to two points late, but UNM held on to win on two Twitty kills.

Twitty logged four kills in the frame, helping UNM to a .207 clip. Toledo only hit .171 in the set with seven attack errors.

Coming out of intermission, both teams continued to play a tight match. UT took an 8-4 lead, only to have UNM cut the deficit to one at 8-7. A 4-1 spurt pulled the Lobos even at 13, but Toledo gained the advantage for good after reeling off a 6-1 run for a 20-15 lead.

Back-to-back Spragg-Heilborn blocks helped New Mexico draw to within two points at 20-18, but Toledo emerged with the win, 25-22.

Carrasco notched five errorless kills on seven swings as UNM outhit Toledo .238 to .207.

Like the previous sets, the fourth opened with little separation. Both teams fought to an early 6-6 deadlock, with Toledo breaking the tie after a 4-0 run. Three consecutive New Mexico points made it a 10-9 game, but the Rockets closed on a 15-6 run to win the set 25-15.

The Lobos return to action Saturday morning as they take on Tennessee Tech at 10 a.m. MT to cap the Blue/Gold Invitational.

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