Open Announce

Lobos Add Two Middle Blockers to 2020 Class

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Jon Newman-Gonchar and his staff have signed two more to The University of New Mexico volleyball team, bringing the total to three players in the last month and five overall in the 2020 signing class.

Starting in the fall of 2020 will be Milica Djukic and Avital Jaloba, both middle blockers who are transferring from other schools.

Jaloba, a junior 6-2 middle blocker from Ariel, Israel, joins the Lobos from Arizona State. In her two years as a Sun Devil, Jaloba appeared in 100 sets within 38 matches and recorded a total of 60 kills, five service aces, six assists, 34 digs and 61 total blocks (nine solo) for a total of 104.5 points.

Her sophomore season was her most successful season at ASU, registering 54 total blocks (seven solo), 48 kills, 21 digs and all six assists, accounting for 78.5 points. The highlight of the season came in a three-set victory over Arizona in which the newest Lobo hit .714 with five kills on seven attacks. She tallied a season-best nine points against California behind a season-high seven kills, hitting .545, and four total blocks (all assisted). Her best match at the net came at Oregon State with two solo blocks and three assisted.

“We are thrilled to welcome Avi to Albuquerque and the Lobo Volleyball Family,” Newman-Gonchar said. “Avi brings incredible international experience from the Israeli National Team, as well as domestic experience from one of the top NCAA volleyball conferences in the country. Avi has a huge arm and will be putting us in a position to be very effective with our middle attack. It was a great day for our program when Avi decided to bring her talents to UNM.”

As Newman-Gonchar noted, Jaloba has played with the Israeli National Team since 2013 and was named the MVP of the Israeli Under 20 League. At the 2017 CEV Volleyball European Championships, Jaloba accounted for 5.30 kills per set and 1.6 blocks per set while playing in 31 matches. Additionally, the newest Lobo competed as a member of the Israeli-based Hapoel KFAR SABA volleyball club from 2016-17 and played in the 2016-17 ISR National Championships and 2016-17 CEV Volleyball Cups.

Jaloba also trained with the Israeli Air Force and has a sister, Linor, who is a fighter soldier in the Israeli military.

Djukic, a 6-0 junior from Belgrade, Serbia, joins the Lobos from Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas.

“Milica comes to us following a very successful career at Colby CC where she excelled on and off the court,” Newman-Gonchar said. “Milica is a very versatile attacker who can score points in front and behind the setter. It was clear to us that Milica embodied our core values and would be another amazing international addition to our roster.”

During her two seasons with the Trojans, Djukic appeared in 55 matches and 191 sets, and filled the stat sheet, recording 380 kills, 24 assists, 46 service aces, 70 digs, 233 total blocks (31 solo), hit .358 and finished with 558.0 points (2.9 points per set).

Her 2018-19 season was her most accomplished, registering 208 kills (2.14 kills per set), 29 service aces, 36 digs, 12 assists and 118 total blocks (12 solo) for 302.0 points (3.1 points per set). She led the conference with 1.22 blocks per set and ranked 11th nationally.

In 2019, Djukic appeared in 94 sets in 26 matches, finishing with 172 kills, 12 assists, 17 service aces, 34 digs, 115 total blocks (19 solo) for 256.0 points. She was second in the Jayhawk West with 1.22 blocks per set and second with 96 total blocks.

As a result, Djukic received All-Jayhawk West recognition on the second team in 2018 and first team in 2019. Djukic also earned academic accolades during her time at Colby with All-Academic Third Team in 2018-19 and made the President’s Honor Roll in 2019.

Djukic hit over .350 both years, finishing with a hitting percentage of .359 her rookie season and .357 during her most recent year. Her .357 hitting percentage ranked third in the conference and 18th nationally.

In Djukic’s two years at Colby, the Trojans went 51-11 and ranked in the top 20 of the NJCAA poll for several weeks. Colby finished as conference runners-up both years.

The Lobos have now signed five players to the 2020 class, joining Kali Wolf, Hayley Torres and Tori Tua. In the class, UNM added two outside hitters in Wolf and Tua, two middle blockers in Djukic and Jaloba and Torres, who can play either defensive specialist or outside hitter.