ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico volleyball team hosts UTEP in an exhibition on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 2:30 p.m. in Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit in its lone exhibition of the season.
Admission is free and there will be a clinic for kids in attendance following the conclusion of the exhibition with the team.
Saturday’s exhibition gives fans their first opportunity to see the 2019 Lobo team before the season officially begins on Friday, Aug. 30 at the Northern Colorado Tournament and the only chance for Lobo fans to experience a home volleyball match until Saturday, Sept. 28.
Adding to the excitement of the season beginning is the anticipation of the seven newcomers who have the potential to make an immediate impact for the Lobos, six of which are true freshmen, and the first match for Head Coach Jon Newman-Gonchar and his entire coaching staff.
Following the exhibition, the Lobos open the season with four straight weekends on the road in non-conference tournaments before hosting Wyoming for their first home match of the season on Saturday, Sept. 28. UNM will have just nine home matches with two separate three-match homestands and a final home match on Tuesday, Nov. 19 against UNLV.
Fans can purchase Lobo Pride Passes for access to all home matches this season for $50 by clicking HERE or they can do so directly through the Lobo Ticket Office in person or on the phone (925-LOBO). The Lobo Ticket Office is located in Dreamstyle Arena and is open 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
SCOUTING THE MINERS
UTEP enters the season with a first-year head coach as well in Ben Wallis, who spent the last six years as an assistant coach at New Mexico State. Like the Lobos, UTEP has a high number of newcomers with 11 on the roster. However, UTEP retained five starters and lost just one starter and a libero while also returning nine letter winners.
Serena Patterson returns as the leading attacker from a season ago, recording a team-high 165 kills on 650 attacks. From the service line, Kristen Fritsche and Briana Arellano led the Miners with 16 aces, while Fritsche also led in assists with 851. Cheyenne Jones led the team with 195.5 points.
On the defensive side, Mallory Yost and Martine Kragholm led the Miners at the net with 64.0 total blocks and Briana Bustillos had a team-high 388 digs.