TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of New Mexico beach volleyball closed out its opening weekend of the 2018 season on Saturday as it fell 5-0 to No. 20/19 Washington in a well-fought match at the Arizona Invitational.
The youthful Lobos (0-3) put up a strong fight against the Huskies (2-1), almost earning points behind the pairings of Maddie Irwin & Erin Martin and Eastyn Baleto & Lauren Twitty, but couldn’t gain the upper hand at Bear Down Beach in Tucson.
But, despite the team’s record after the weekend, the Lobos performed well in their first action of the season as their roster featuring seven total newcomers gained experience in the sand.
With just five players returning from last year’s team, New Mexico managed to put up a solid showing during the weekend as the Lobos fought some of the top teams in collegiate beach volleyball.
The Arizona Invitational represents the first of four weekends to open the season where the Lobos will face off against at least one team ranked in the preseason editions of either the AVCA Poll or the DiG Magazine Poll.
However, unlike most weeks, where UNM will play one or two ranked teams, this weekend’s slate was arguably one of the toughest they’ll face all season.
The Lobos battled three ranked teams at the Arizona Invitational, including No. 10/10 Arizona and No. 17/20 Loyola Marymount — whom the Lobos lost to on Friday by identical 4-1 scores — and Washington.
Against the Huskies, New Mexico had its chances to get on the scoreboard, taking two of the five courts to decisive third sets.
Irwin & Martin, the duo that scored against LMU on Friday, almost scored on Washington on the top-seeded No. 1 court, taking the Washington pair of Jordan Anderson & Kimmy Gardiner to three sets.
However, despite winning the first set 21-10, they fell 21-17 in the second set before ultimately falling 19-17 in a tightly contested third set that was tied 15-all late.
On the No. 3 court, Baleto & Twitty also took their opponents to three sets as they traded the first frames 21-19 and 17-21 with Carly DeHoog & Shayne McPherson. But third set went the way of the Huskies, 16-14.
Additionally, Yasmin Tan & Chloe Crappell fell 21-7, 21-12 to Courtney Schwan & Destiny Julye on the No. 2 court.
In the first flight, the Lobos put up a fight against the Huskies, falling in a couple of close battles.
The Lobos’ duo of Kayla Long & Abbey Willison fell 21-14, 21-17 to Washington’s Natalie Robinson & Anna Crabtree on the No. 4 court, while the No. 5 tandem of Emily Nenninger & Carly Beddingfield dropped a close 21-9, 21-14 decision to Kara Bajema & Emma Calle.
The Lobos return to action next week as they head to Phoenix to play Grand Canyon, Abilene Christian and Grossmont on Friday and Saturday.
Washington 5, New Mexico 0
1. Jordan Anderson & Kimmy Gardiner (UW) def. Maddie Irwin & Erin Martin (UNM) 10-21, 21-17, 19-17
2. Courtney Schwan & Destiny Julye (UW) def. Yasmin Tan & Chloe Crappell (UNM) 21-7, 21-12
3. Carly DeHoog & Shayne McPherson (UW) def. Eastyn Baleto & Lauren Twitty (UNM) 21-19, 17-21, 16-14
4. Natalie Robinson & Anna Crabtree (UW) def. Kayla Long & Abbey Willison (UNM) 21-14, 21-17
5. Kara Bajema & Emma Calle (UW) def. Emily Nenninger & Carly Beddingfield (UNM) 21-9, 21-14
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2*, 1, 3
*Clinched dual win
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