Lobo VB Releases 2021 Schedule
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— While the timing may not fall in the typical calendar months, volleyball season is approaching.
The University of New Mexico volleyball season is set to begin next week in a conference only format as the Lobos open up against Nevada on Feb. 5. UNM will play Nevada on back-to-back days, as will be the case in all six conference series that it will play. In the final four matches, the Lobos will play just single matches in a season that will span over nine weeks.
UNM is scheduled to play two-match series against Nevada (Feb. 5/6), Wyoming (Feb. 12/13), San Diego State (Feb. 19/20), Air Force (Feb. 26/27), Boise State (March 5/6) and UNLV (March 12/13) before closing the schedule with matches against San José State (March 25), Fresno State (March 27), Colorado State (April 1) and Utah State (April 3).
The Lobos enter the unique 2021 schedule with a rebuilt roster featuring 11 newcomers.
In his second year as head coach, Jon Newman-Gonchar and staff have brought in three transfers and eight freshmen, including Elizabeth Woods, Riley White and Abby Thigpen who all enrolled at UNM in January and will be eligible to play this season. Avital Jaloba and Milica Djukic help fill a void at the middle blocker position and bring experience to the position with New Mexico native Hayley Torres bringing the same experience and depth to the outside hitter group and to the 2021 roster.
New Mexico returns stability in outside hitter Kaitlynn Biassou, a sophomore who started in all but one match in her freshman season at UNM and was third on the team with 293 kills but tied for the team high in hitting percentage, as well as sophomore libero Alena Moldan, who started in every match in the 2019 season and led the Lobos in digs (422) and recorded 20-plus digs five times. Both Biassou and Moldan will serve as co-captains this season.
While she did not play in 2019, outside hitter Uxue Guereca is highly touted by the coaching staff and is expected to make a large impact for the Lobos.
UNM finished the 2019 season winning five of its last seven matches, three of its last four matches and with two 3-0 victories, to finish the conference season 6-12.