Lobo Volleyball Hosts New Mexico Highlands in Exhibition Saturday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico volleyball team opens its season in an exhibition against New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. in The Pit.
Admission is free with a postmatch clinic to follow. Per current state guidelines, masks will be required to be worn for both the match and postmatch clinic.
The Lobos enter the season featuring a solid mix of newcomers versus returners, underclassmen versus upperclassmen, with all fully capable of making an impact in their positions.
Elected captains for the second straight year, Kaitlynn Biassou and Alena Moldan are again expected to be the leaders among the group, with Biassou highlighting the outside hitters and Moldan the libero position.
While the COVID year provided an opportunity for the freshmen to get a trial run of Mountain West competition, the now-sophomore group of Tori Tua, Kali Wolf and Emma Smith thrived in their first years as Lobos, with Tua leading the team with 40 blocks on the season and each making their first collegiate starts.
Wolf started all 14 games and played in all 53 sets, finishing second on the team in kills and earned Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week her first week. Tua made 10 starts but played in 12 matches while Smith made seven starts in eight matches played.
UNM returns enough key players across the board in Avital Jaloba, Biassou, Moldan, Chloe Clark, Uxue Guereca, Wolf, Smith, Hayley Torres and Tua to build off of last season, and has strengthened its standing with key roster additions.
Entering their third year at the helm of the Lobos, Jon Newman-Gonchar and staff bolstered the roster with four transfers- two setters, a middle blocker and an outside hitter, and had the benefit of two freshmen that have been on campus since January and were able to learn, practice and experience the Mountain West competition firsthand.
UNM returns its top two attackers in Biassou and Wolf, with both registering over 100 kills, as well as its top three blockers in Tua, Smith and Biassou and leaders in digs from last season in Moldan, Biassou and Wolf.
The biggest role to fill will be at the setter position, with two new pieces in Alia Rasmussen and Melissa Walden. A transfer from Texas A&M, Walden appeared in four sets and two matches with the Aggies, but looks to expand her role and become a key player with the Lobos. Rasmussen joins the Lobos from Yavapai College, where she accumulated 597 assists, 298 digs and double-digit service aces in both years.
Following UNM’s lone exhibition on Saturday, the Lobos will open their season in Fullerton, Calif., in a three-match tournament at Cal State Fullerton. UNM opens the season Friday, Aug. 27 against Fordham at 1 p.m. MT and closes the day against the host Titans at 7 p.m. MT.
While Saturday’s exhibition is free to attend, Lobo fans can purchase Pride Passes to attend all home volleyball matches. For $50, fans receive admission for all soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball and track and field home events.
Fans can purchase their Lobo Pride Pass online here (CLICK 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 The Pit and is open 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets will be digital with tickets to each event uploaded into each pass holder’s account prior to the season.