Lobos to Close Out Season at Home
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– After 12 matches on the road, The University of New Mexico volleyball team will finally have a chance to play at home as the Lobos host Colorado State and Utah State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m., respectively.
Both matches will be streamed on the Mountain West Network.
UNM enters the final weekend of the season 3-9, with Colorado State 8-5 and Utah State 4-9.
Sophomore outside hitter Kaitlynn Biassou leads the Lobos with 149 kills (3.31 per set), 179.0 points (3.98 per set) and 17 service aces, while freshman setter Kara Erfurth has accounted for 343 assists (8.79 per set). Biassou is sixth in the conference in kills per set at 3.34, service aces per set (0.39) and is fifth in points per set at 4.0 with 164.0 on the season. Additionally, Erfurth is third in the conference in assists per set at 8.77.
Sophomore Alena Moldan leads in digs at 144, averaging 3.20 per set, with Biassou second on the team at 106 (2.36 per set). Freshman Tori Tua leads in total blocks with 32 (four solo), playing in 37 sets and starting the last six matches.
About Colorado State
The defending MW champions enter the match 8-5 on the season with losses to Air Force (3-0), UNLV (3-0, 3-1), Wyoming (3-1) and San José State (3-2).
Breana Runnels leads the Rams in kills with 166 (4.05 k/s) and with 186.5 points (4.55 pts./s). Ciera Zimmerman has accounted for 431 assists on the season, averaging 9.80 per set, and leads the team with 16 service aces. Defensively, Alexa Roumeliotis has a team-high 245 digs on the season (5.0 per set) and Sasha Colombo leads with 33.0 total blocks (six solo), with Karina Leber closely behind at 31.0 total blocks (three solo).
As a team, CSU is second in the MW in assists per set (11.96), third in hitting percentage (.232) and kills per set (12.98), and fourth in digs per set (14.47). Individually, Zimmerman leads the conference in assists per set, Roumeliotis leads in digs per set, Runnels is second in kills per set and points per set, and Colombo is seventh in hitting percentage (.347) with Leber 10th (.310). Nationally, the Rams are 50th in aces per set (1.65) and 69th in hitting percentage. Runnels is 43rd in the NCAA in attacks per set (11.44) and 59th in kills per set, while Roumeliotis is 49th in digs per set.
Series vs. Colorado State
Colorado State holds a 57-24 advantage in the all-time series, however UNM’s last win came on Nov. 17, 2018 in five sets. The Lobos are 13-23 at home, with their last home win over the Rams on Sept. 20, 2012, again in five sets. UNM is 8-35 in three sets, 8-13 in four sets and 6-9 in five sets.
About Utah State
Utah State is 4-9 entering the weekend with wins over Fresno State (3-1), San Diego State (3-0), Air Force (3-2) and Nevada (3-1).
Tatum Stall leads the Aggies in kills at 118 (2.41 k/s), 144.5 points (2.95 pts/s) and 17 service aces with Bailey Downing closely behind at 113 kills (2.31 k/s). Corinne Larsen is second on the team in points with 141.5 (2.89 per set) with 53.0 total blocks (four solo). Kalena Vaivai has 292 assists on the season, an average of 7.12 per set, and Abby Peterson leads in team digs at 181 (3.69 per set).
Series vs. Utah State
The Lobos lead the series with Utah State 20-13, 10-4 at home and 4-1 in the last five matches. UNM is 13-2 in three sets, 5-3 in four sets and 2-3 in five sets.