ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Lauren Twitty and Sarah Lobo both tallied double-doubles and Ashley Kelsey played superb back-row defense, but the University of New Mexico volleyball team’s upset bid fell just short in a five-set defeat to No. 20 Colorado State.
Although Twitty, Lobo and Kelsey dazzled for the Lobos (11-12 overall, 3-7 Mountain West) on Saturday afternoon, the conference-leading Rams (20-2, 10-0) proved to be a match for New Mexico’s upstart performance inside Johnson Center.
New Mexico won the first two sets 25-21 and 26-24, but Colorado State claimed the final three sets 25-17, 25-16, 15-11.
“I thought we came out super strong and focused,” Twitty said. “We didn’t hold anything back the entire match. I think it shows the level we can play at and that we can compete with great teams.
“We learned a lot and now we can focus on the things we need to work on as well, but, overall, I thought it was a good match.”
Closing out a stretch of five matches in 10 days, the Lobos earned a number of stellar showings across the board.
Twitty finished with 19 kills and a career-high 18 digs for her 10th double-double of the season, while Lobo, in her second career start, notched career highs in both assists (46) and digs (13) for her first career double-double.
Twitty finished with a team-best .306 hitting percentage (19 kills, 4 errors, 49 attempts), and logged a career-best fifth-straight game with double-figure kills.
New Mexico also received solid offensive results from Mariessa Carrasco (11 kills), Carly Beddingfield (10) and Yasmin Tan (eight). As a team, UNM hit .205 (56-25-151).
On the defensive end, Kelsey played a tremendous match from the libero position, collecting a match-best 25 digs with just a single reception error. She tied a season best in digs and finished just four digs short of a new career high.
Hailey Rubino chipped in 12 digs as the Lobos out-dug CSU 77 to 56. UNM’s 77 digs are the team’s second-most this season.
Serving also played an important role in the match. Although New Mexico limited its mistakes serving — UNM had four service errors to Colorado State’s 17 — the Lobos weren’t able to force the Rams with their serve, finishing with two aces total.
“The biggest thing I wish we would have done is stayed more aggressive serving,” head coach Jeff Nelson said. “I think we started not wanting to make errors instead of just going for it.”
New Mexico opened the match on a roll, surging to a 5-0 lead behind two kills each from Twitty and Beddingfield. Colorado State would tie it up at 7-7 before eventually putting together a lead at 16-14.
But the Lobos wouldn’t yield, scoring three straight to retake the lead at 17-16. A 4-1 run, featuring an Abbey Willison ace, would put UNM up 21-18, and the Lobos would finish the set off with three of the final four points for a 25-21 win.
Twitty and Beddingfield both had four kills in the set as New Mexico hit .333 (12-3-27) in the set. The Lobos were also aided by six CSU service errors, often helping UNM side out after a Ram point.
Colorado State opened the second set much like New Mexico did in the first, racing out to a 4-0 lead. But UNM reeled off a 7-1 run to take a 7-5 lead, sparking some back-and-forth play. The Lobos would tie the set at 12-all, but CSU took a 15-12 lead into the media timeout.
The Rams stayed ahead all the way to 23-19, but, after a timeout, New Mexico capped the set with a 7-1 run, winning the set 26-24 on a Tan kill in the back corner of the court.
Twitty posted five kills in the set, but a five-block effort by the Lobos limited the Rams to a .106 hitting percentage.
Coming out of intermission, CSU moved ahead 9-4, expanding that lead nine at 18-9. UNM would cut the deficit to six at 18-12 and 21-15, but the Rams won the set 25-17.
UNM hit .222 (15-7-36) in the set, but Colorado State committed just one error en route to a .400 (15-1-35) attack percentage.
The fourth set started similarly, with CSU moving ahead 11-5 early. UNM would make it a five-point game at 15-10, but the Rams extended their lead to eight at 18-10 before winning 25-16. Carrasco and Twitty both had four kills, but UNM was limited to a .125 hitting percentage (10-6-32).
Colorado State kept the momentum in the fifth and final set, taking leads at 8-4 and 12-5. New Mexico scored four in a row facing match point to trim the deficit to three at 14-11, but CSU finished the set off with a point, winning 15-11.
“There are a lot of good things,” Nelson said of the Lobos’ performance. “Even in game five, when you’re down, AK (Kelsey) served tough and we battled. It was a rough week and I think they did a lot of good things.”
The Lobos return to action next Thursday, October 26 as they travel to Logan, Utah, to face Utah State.
Fans can follow @UNMLoboVB on Twitter and Instagram for information and updates on the team!