Lobos Look to Finish Season on High Note in Reno
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — While a season of oddities isn’t a shocker in the first full season back from last year’s COVID cancellation, UNM hopes to end a season of of ups and downs on one more up as the Lobos head to Reno, Nevada for the final two matches of the season. The Lobos will take on Nevada on Friday at 3 p.m. and then Fresno State in the season finale at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, both of those times Mountain.
The Lobos opened the season 7-2 overall and 1-0 in the Mountain West, but the squad has lost six straight, but UNM’s been in every match, a testament to how the team has stayed the course. UNM lost its last two matches by 4-3 scores, losing 4-3 to Air Force and 4-3 to San Jose State. The two losses were tough as UNM had 3-2 leads in both. The loss to San Jose State was particularly tough as UNM nearly ended the Spartans’ 13-match winning streak. UNM also has a pair of 4-2 losses in the streak as well, to Boise State and Wyoming. UNM has played the last four matches without senior Danielle Quevedo, and only once has UNM had a chance to use last year’s top player Sara Kuuttila-Webbert, who has made just one appearance this season.
Despite the skid, UNM’s squad has seen plenty of positives, including the play of freshman Hsuan Huang, who is 7-5 on the season and a candidate for MW Freshman of the Year honors. Huang’s record has been topped only by Myu Kageyama, who has held down the middle of the lineup with Huang. Kageyama is a team-best 9-4 on the year and 7-3 at No. 4 singles. The Lobos, winners of the doubles point in six of its last eight, have been strong there. Natasha Munday and Huang have teamed for an 8-3 record, playing all season at No. 1 doubles. Kageyama and Yue Lin “Polly” Chen have also excelled in doubles, going 5-2 at No. 2.
Nevada enters the match on Friday at 5-9 overall and 0-8 in the Mountain West. The match was originally scheduled to be the season finale on Sunday, but due to impending inclement weather, the Lobos and Wolf Pack moved the match to Friday. That means UNM’s match with Fresno State on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., also in Reno, will be the season finale. The Bulldogs are 13-5 overall and 6-2 and tied for second place in the league. Fresno State could conceivably win the conference title with two wins over the weekend and two San Jose State losses.
It will be the final matches for Chen, Munday, Quevedo and potentially Hsiang-Wen “Albie” Huang, who may or may not return in 2022. While UNM has signed three incoming freshmen for 2022, the current Lobos are looking to go out on a high note in Reno.