Lobos Earn Third Sweep of Titan Classic in Win Over UC Riverside
FULLERTON, Calif. – The University of New Mexico volleyball team couldn’t have scripted a better start to the 2021 season as the Lobos earned their third win of the weekend and their third-straight sweep after defeating UC Riverside 25-13, 25-20, 25-16 on Saturday.
The last time the Lobos won three-straight matches in straight sets in a single season was in 2013 (Aug. 31 and twice on Sept. 6 which also included UC Riverside) and the first time that UNM has started 3-0 since 2009. Of note, the Lobos recorded two, three-set victories to end the 2016 season and started the 2017 season with two straight-set wins.
Kali Wolf was the lone player on either side to record double-digit kills, recording 10 in the match, while adding five digs and a match-high three service aces against the Highlanders. Melissa Walden produced another solid stat line, coming up with a match-high 25 assists, three kills, nine digs and three assisted blocks.
Alena Moldan again led in digs with a match-high 17 and Elizabeth Woods was a force at the net with two solo and five assisted blocks to go along with four kills.
For the third-straight match, the Lobos held their opponents below .050 hitting percentage with the Highlanders finishing at .045 with 29 kills on 110 attempts.
The Lobos were in a battle with the Highlanders early before going on an 8-0 run behind two Walden aces, two Uxue Guereca kills, a kill each from Kaitlynn Biassou and Avital Jaloba and a Guereca and Jaloba block to pull ahead for good at 16-9.
Another run, this time 4-0, pushed the lead past double digits at 22-11 with a Woods solo block capping off the run. Consecutive Walden and Woods combo blocks provided the final necessary points as the Lobos took the first set, 25-13.
Biassou had another strong set with five kills and a .625 hitting rate (5-0-8), as the Lobos outhit the Highlanders .357 to .100, and outblocked them 4.0 to 0.0.
The momentum continued into the second set, with UNM getting out to a four-point lead at 6-2 on a Biassou kill. UC Riverside, however, pulled even at seven but a Woods kill allowed the Lobos to regain the advantage which grew to 10-7. The Highlanders tied the set at 11, but again the Lobos scored the next point to take the lead back, this time on a Walden kill. UC Riverside pulled as close as 14-13 before a 3-0 run that included a Woods and Biassou block created the final separation.
A solo Woods block followed by consecutive Guereca kills pushed the Lobos past the 20-point mark of the set at 22-15 and from there, the Lobos received another two Guereca kills and a block by Guereca and Emma Smith to close the set at 25-20.
Guereca and Wolf each registered four kills and a service ace in the set to pace the Lobos, as while the set had three ties, UNM never trailed.
New Mexico again was up 4-1 early in the third set before UC Riverside went on a run to tie the set at five. UNM responded with a 5-0 run with two Wolf kills, along with a Walden kill, a Walden and Woods block and a Biassou ace to regain control.
The Lobo lead stretched to six at 12-6 on a Wolf ace, but the Highlanders rallied to pull back within two at 13-11 before the Lobos again stretched the lead to six at 17-11 on a Walden kill.
UC Riverside got as close as four in the remainder of the set at 18-14 as the Lobos closed down the stretch on a Jaloba kill, a Wolf and Woods block, two Highlander attack errors and a final block by Wolf and Smith that secured the set at 25-16, and the match.
UNM (3-0) returns to the road for its next tournament, this time at Abilene Christian for a three-match tournament against Green Bay, Abilene Christian and Texas Southern. The first match is set for Friday, Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. MT.
BECOME A PRIDE PASS HOLDER
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.