New Mexico Holds off CSU Bakersfield for 3-2 Win

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Powered by gusty play throughout its lineup, the University of New Mexico beach volleyball team defeated CSU Bakersfield 3-2 on Friday afternoon at the Barnes Beach Volleyball Complex.

Winners of four of their last five matches, the surging Lobos (6-10) continued to build momentum toward the end of the season as they held off a tough Roadrunners (3-11) squad in their only match of the week.

With just two more weeks remaining on its 2018 schedule, UNM made the most of its only competition this week, capturing a hard-fought victory for its first true road win of the season.

Although a youthful team with seven newcomers, New Mexico continued the superb April play that has marked the program the last two years.

With their win over CSU Bakersfield, the Lobos moved to 11-1 in April since last spring.

It’s a trend that speaks well to the team’s ability to adapt through the season, a talent that was on full display during Friday’s match.

Four of the five courts went to three sets, with New Mexico earning two of those points and, most importantly, the only court won in two sets.

Lauren Twitty

At the No. 2 court, Eastyn Baleto & Lauren Twitty won their fifth straight match together, rallying past the Roadrunners’ Desiree Sukhov & Sarah Garrow by set scores of 17-21, 21-16, 15-10.

The tanded moved to a team-best 9-4 on the season, and gave them their first three-set win as a partnership after falling in their previous two such contests.

However, that duo wasn’t the only winning in decisive third sets, as New Mexico’s third-seeded pairing of Chloe Crappell & Yasmin Tan gutted out a crucial 11-21, 23-21, 17-15 win over Aleksandra Djordjevi & Briannah Mariner on the No. 3 court.

Crappell & Tan posted their sixth win in their last eight matches, moving to 6-7 in 2018.

Additionally, the tandem of Abbey Willison & Emily Nenninger sealed the win for New Mexico at the No. 5 court, claiming a relatively handy 21-11, 21-7 win against CSU Bakersfield’s Ally Barber & Krista Hernandez.

Paired up together for just the second time this season, Willison & Nenninger improved to 2-0 together, while Willison moved to 8-8 individually.

Elsewhere, the ‘Runners felled the Lobos in a pair of three-set affairs.

At the top-seeded No. 1 court, Maddie Irwin & Erin Martin couldn’t translate a first-set win into victory, falling 21-23, 21-8, 15-12 to CSUB’s Sydney Haynes & Emily Hansen.

Carly Beddingfield & Mercedes Pacheco also dropped a court after taking an early lead as they lost 16-21, 21-16, 15-12 to Mattison Degarmo & Emily Lopes.

Nonetheless, New Mexico moved to 3-1 all-time against CSU Bakersfield, and has still yet to lose a match played in the state of California, going 7-0 all-time in the Golden State.

The Lobos return to action next weekend as they head to Texas A&M-Kingsville for the Javelina Battle on the Beach in Kingsville, Texas. There, UNM will play the host Javelinas along with Abilene Christian, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and St. Edward’s.

New Mexico 3, CSU Bakersfield 2
1. Sydney Haynes/Emily Hansen (CSUB) def. Maddie Irwin/Erin Martin (UNM) 21-23, 21-8, 15-12
2. Eastyn Baleto/Lauren Twitty (UNM) def. Desiree Sukhov/Sarah Garrow (CSUB) 17-21, 21-16, 15-10
3. Yasmin Tan/Chloe Crappell (UNM) def. Aleksandra Djordjevi/Briannah Mariner (CSUB) 11-21, 23-21, 17-15
4. Mattison Degarmo/Emily Lopes (CSUB) def. Carly Beddingfield/Mercedes Pacheco (UNM) 16-21, 21-16, 15-12
5. Abbey Willison/Emily Nenninger (UNM) def. Ally Barber/Krista Hernandez (CSUB) 21-11, 21-7

Fans can follow @UNMLoboBeach on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of the Lobos!