ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico volleyball team dropped a three-set match to Northern Colorado Saturday afternoon as it closed out the Lobo Classic with a 2-1 record. The set scores were 25-19, 25-21, 25-21.
Despite a double-double by tournament MVP Lauren Twitty, the Lobos (6-3) couldn’t build on a pair of wins Friday — including a five-set thriller against Portland — falling to the Bears (4-5) in Johnson Center.
Twitty led the way for New Mexico, posting team highs in kills (13) and digs (11) for her fourth double-double of the season.
She finished with a team-best 40 kills over the weekend, adding 32 digs.
Mariessa Carrasco (seven kills), Yasmin Tan (six) and Victoria Spragg (six) also contributed to UNM’s offense vs. the Bears, but the Lobos struggled to convert, hitting .090 (37 kills, 25 errors, 134 attacks) as a team.
Defensively, Ashley Kelsey, the tournament’s Outstanding Libero, joined Twitty with double-digit digs as she compiled 10. Mercedes Pacheco finished with eight.
UNC’s advantage came largely from its defense, as the Bears totalled 53 digs and 11 total blocks. The 11 blocks are the most allowed by UNM this season.
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The Lobos opened the match solidly, taking a quick 6-4 lead before Northern Colorado scored five straight points and eight of the next 10 to go up 12-9. UNM would manage to close the gap to three points twice, once at 17-14 and again at 21-18, but UNC finished with four of the final five points of the set for a 25-19 win.
Looking to rally, New Mexico came out firing in set two, surging to an 8-2 lead behind two Carrasco kills and multiple Northern Colorado errors. The Bears would erase that deficit via an 11-1 run, eventually building an 18-14 lead.
UNM would draw even after posting an 8-3 spurt, but UNC again closed strongly, tallying six of the final eight points of the set to win the set 25-21.
Twitty’s best set came in the second as she registered six of her kills. Tan also finished with four errorless kills in the frame.
Coming out of intermission, Northern Colorado continued to apply pressure, moving ahead 10-6 early. The Lobos would tie the set up at 13 and 14, but four straight UNC points made it 18-14 in favor of the Bears.
A 5-1 run pulled New Mexico even at 20, but Northern Colorado would answer again, scoring five of the last six points of the set to win it 25-21.
The Lobos return to action next weekend as they head to Toledo to play in the Blue/Gold Invitational. New Mexico faces Youngstown State for the second time in two weeks before playing Toledo and Tennessee Tech.
Fans can follow @UNMLoboVB on Twitter and Instagram for information and updates on the team!