ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– The Lobos open Mountain West play this week with a home match on Wednesday versus Utah State and a road match on Saturday at Boise State. Historically, New Mexico is 16-12 versus Utah State, 9-3 at home, and 9-5 versus Boise State, 4-3 away. UNM is 4-7 in Mountain West openers under head coach Jeff Nelson, 2-3 when opening at home.
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New Mexico Closed Out Non-Conference at Husker Invite
New Mexico volleyball went 1-2 on the weekend, finishing off the tournament with a win against Central Michigan. The Lobos were the only team to win a set against No. 4 Nebraska in the tournament, which happened in the first set (25-23). Late in the third set against the Cornhuskers, the Lobos came within one point twice (20-19, 21-20).
Carrasco Named to All-Tournament Team
Middle blocker Mariessa Carrasco earned her first all-tournament selection of the year at the Husker Invite. The redshirt-senior led the Lobos with 16 total blocks on the weekend- one solo and 15 assisted- including a career- and match-high 13 assisted blocks versus CMU. The 13 assisted blocks tied the school record for the most assisted blocks by an individual in a single game in school history. Carrasco also had 14 kills and two service aces, contributing 24.5 points on the weekend.
Going the Distance
In the last match against CMU, and for the fifth time this season, UNM went the distance in a five-set victory. After the Chippewas rallied to force a fifth set, the Lobos scored the first three points of the set, closed the match on a 7-0 run, including four blocks in-a-row, en route to the 15-7 set win.
In the three matches played at the Idaho Volleyball Classic on opening weekend and the three matches at the UNF Invitational, the Lobos played five sets in two of each tournament, going 2-2. UNM lost a late lead in the fifth set to fall to Grand Canyon University to open the tournament, but finished with a five-set victory against host Idaho. At UNF, New Mexico was down to match point at 24-23 in the fourth set, with Lauren Twitty registering a kill to extend the set. The Lobos would go on to win 26-24. In the fifth set, the Lobos trailed 13-10 before fighting back to win the set 16-14.
Setting the Tone
The Lobos have two new setters on the roster in freshman Sabrina Bianco and redshirt-freshman transfer Jaclyn Inclan. Bianco leads the team with 274 assists, averaging 5.59 per set, and Inclan is behind her with 183 assists (3.98 a/s). Combined, the duo has 457 of the team’s 526 assists. Bianco has started all 12 matches, registering double-digit assists in all 12, with a season-high 42 against UNF.
Serves You Right
Bianco (12) and Inclan (nine) are first and second, respectively, on the team in service aces. Mariessa Carrasco, Morgan Schreckler and Lauren Twitty all have eight on the season. As a team, this past weekend, the Lobos had 13 service aces.
Joining the Rankings
Lauren Twitty is ninth in the Mountain West with 3.33 k/s, totaling 160 kills in 48 sets, the seventh-most kills in the conference, as well as ninth in points per set at 3.90 (187 points/ 48 sets). Mercedes Pacheco is 10th in digs per set with 3.28.
Nationally, Twitty is ranked in attacks per set (9.63), points (187), total attacks (462) and total kills (160). Spragg is ranked in total blocks (50) and blocks per set (1.02) and Carrasco is ranked in total blocks (44).
I’ll Have the Double-Double, Please
The double-doubles keep coming for the Lobos, as UNM has 15 on the season. Tai Bierria and Lauren Twitty each have five, with Twitty recording three double-doubles at the UNF Invitational.
Versus Furman, three New Mexico players had a double-double, but in all three UNF Invitational matches, at least two Lobos had a double-double.
Against Idaho, four Lobo players registered double-doubles. Sabrina Bianco had 30 assists and 12 digs, Jaclyn Inclan had 23 assists to go with 11 digs, in addition to Twitty’s 20 kills and 14 digs and Bierria’s 12 kills and 12 digs.
Just Dig It
Lauren Twitty is pacing the Lobos in digs with 120 digs through 48 sets, an average of 2.50 digs per set. Tai Bierria is second on the team with 103 digs at 2.19 digs per set, followed by Sabrina Bianco, who has 91 digs (1.86 d/s).
Lobos Picked Fifth in MW Preseason Coaches’ Poll
The Lobos were selected to finish fifth in the Mountain West this season, as voted by the league’s 11 coaches in the MW Preseason Coaches’ Poll released August 15.
Colorado State collected 10 first-place votes for 100 points, while Wyoming received the other first-place vote and 91 points.
New Mexico received 59 points, finishing behind Boise State and San Diego State, who tied for third with 75 points.
Scouting the Opposition
About Utah State (2-9 Overall)
The Aggies are 0-3 on the road, 0-5 in three-set matches, 0-1 in four sets and 2-3 in five sets.
Bailey Downing leads the team with 116 kills (2.70 k/s) with Gabbi Shumway right behind her at 113 (2.57 k/s). Kassidy Johnson has 392 of the team’s 449 assists, an average of 8.91 a/s. Tasia Taylor leads Utah State in service aces (15) and in digs (197, 4.48 d/s), while Corinne Larsen has a team-high 58 blocks (three solo, 55 assisted), a 1.35 b/s average.
Kassidy Johnson is fourth in the Mountain West in average assists per set and Lauren O’Brien is eighth in the conference in hitting percentage (.349). Larsen is third in the MW in blocks per set and O’Brien is currently sixth with 51 total blocks ( 5 solo, 46 assistd/ 1.24 b/s). Taylor is second in the conference in digs per set and tied for ninth in service aces.
Series vs. Utah State
This will be the 29th meeting between the two teams, with New Mexico holding a 16-12 edge. In Albuquerque, the Lobos are 9-3 against the Aggies. UNM won the last two matches in straight sets, and has won 7 of the last 10 meetings. From 2013 to 2015, the Lobos won five straight and from 1987 to 1989, UNM won six straight. From 1984 to 1986, the Lobos won five straight.
About Boise State (8-3 Overall)
The Broncos are 2-2 at home this season and are 4-1 in three sets, 2-1 in four sets and 2-1 in five sets.
Sabryn Roberts leads BSU in kills with 174 (4.14 k/s) and points (197.5 points), and is hitting .267. Morgan Hughes leads the team in service aces (19), Jessie Brigham has a team-high 134 digs (3.19 d/s) with Roberts second on the team with 116 (2.76 d/s). Danielle Boss leads the team in assists with 250 of the team’s 511, an average of 8.62 a/s, while Cassedi Simon has 186 assists, an average of 8.45 a/s. Jessica Donahue (two solo, 59 assisted) has 61 total blocks to the lead the team.
Roberts is second in the conference in kills per set and points per set (4.70), and Hughes is third in service aces. Boss is fifth in assists per set and Simon is seventh. Donahue is second in the MW in blocks per set at 1.45 with her teammate Hughes also in the top-10, coming in at eighth with 47 total blocks (6 solo, 41 assisted /1.12 b/s).
Boise State is second in the Mountain West in total blocks with 119 (42 solo, 202 assisted) and fourth in service aces with 69.
The Broncos were picked to finish tied for third in the Mountain West Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Series vs. Boise State
The Lobos and Broncos will be meeting for the 15th time, with UNM holding a 9-5 overall record against BSU. In Boise, the Lobos are 4-3. Last season, the teams split the series with the visiting teams winning in four sets. The 10/28/17 victory snapped a four-match losing streak for the Lobos. UNM won the first four meetings between the teams and from 2013 to 2014, UNM won four straight.