MOSCOW, Idaho — The University of New Mexico volleyball team split a doubleheader to wrap up the Idaho Volleyball Classic on Saturday, capping the tourney off with a thrilling five-set victory over Idaho. Junior Lauren Twitty earned a spot on the All-Tournament team for her efforts that included 49 kills, 3.77 per set, on the weekend.
The Lobos fell to Santa Clara 3-0 in the morning match, but turned the momentum around for their evening contest that featured a 15-13 win in set five for the 3-2 final. The victory over Idaho marks the first of the season for the Lobos (1-2).
Box Score – Match 1 vs. Santa Clara
Box Score – Match 2 vs. Idaho
The first match of the day against Santa Clara (1-2) saw the Lobos fall in three straight sets 25-21, 25-16, 25-22. Santa Clara, which fell to Idaho 3-0 to open its season on Friday, posted 48 kills and 6.0 blocks compared to 36 kills and 3.0 blocks for the Lobos. UNM was led by Twitty and junior Tai Bierria who posted 12 kills apiece while freshman Sabrina Bianco notched 21 assists.
The Lobos took down Idaho (2-1) in five sets by alternating scores of 25-22, 18-25, 26-24, 25-27 and 15-13.
UNM was again led by Twitty who collected 20 kills and 14 digs. Also performing well offensively for the Lobos was Bierria (12 kills) and senior Carly Beddingfield (10 kills). Bianco posted 30 assists while redshirt-freshman Jaclyn Inclan registered 23. Senior Mercedes Pacheco collected a team-high 19 digs to lead the UNM defense.
After claiming the first set, dropping the second, taking the third in extra points and dropping the fourth in yet another extra-point competition, it was an all-out battle in set five that mirrored UNM’s 3-2 loss to Grand Canyon on Friday.
The Lobos nabbed the first point on a kill by Beddingfield before Idaho took two straight on back-to-back kills from Kaela Straw to make it 2-1 Vandals. A service error tied it back up 2-2 and the squads went back and forth until the Lobos went up by two, 6-4, on a pair of back-to-back kills from redshirt-senior Victoria Spragg and Bierria.
An attack error gave the serve back to Idaho and made it 6-5 Lobos before UNM went on a 4-0 run that nearly put the game out of reach, 10-5. Idaho battled back however, and tied it up at 11-11 and 12-12, but Twitty eventually notched the 14th and 15th points for the Lobos for the win.
With their first tournament of the season concluded, the Lobos will return to action on Friday, August 31 when they host the Lobo Classic at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit. UNM will take on Eastern Kentucky on Friday at 12:45 p.m. followed by game two of the doubleheader at 7:30 p.m. against Florida Gulf Coast.
UNM will finish the Lobo Classic on Saturday, Sept. 1, at 12 p.m. against in-state rival New Mexico State.