Lobos Move to 5-0 After Defeating Wildcats in Straight Sets
ABILENE, Texas- The New Mexico Lobos are 5-0, but even more so, the Lobos have won every set after earning their fifth sweep of the season against Abilene Christian (25-13, 25-13, 25-21) on Friday night.
It is the eighth time in program history that UNM has started 5-0, but the first time since 2009. Additionally, it is just the third time that all five wins have come in straight sets, with the 2008 team winning their first eight matches in straight sets, and the 1988 team winning their first five matches in straight sets, although they played 15-point sets.
The Lobos were a force at the net, accumulating 14.0 total blocks, with Elizabeth Woods accounting for two solo and five assisted. Avital Jaloba also had a solo and five assisted blocks and setter Melissa Walden contributed five assisted blocks.
Walden added her fourth double-double of the season with a match-high 28 assists and a team-high 11 digs, with Uxue Guereca recording her second double-digit kill tally of the day with 10. Kali Wolf matched Guereca with 10 kills, and both padded the stat sheet with Wolf adding two assisted blocks and six digs and Guereca having three assisted blocks, seven digs and an ace.
Statistically, the Lobos held the edge in kills (34-32), assists (31-30), aces (5-1) and blocks (14.0-1.0) while equal in digs (40-40). The Lobos again held their opponent below .050 hitting percentage, with the Wildcats hitting just .027.
New Mexico took control early in the opening set and never trailed, using a 9-1 run to turn a 7-6 lead into a 16-7 lead. The gap extended to double digits at 18-8 on a Kaitlynn Biassou kill and a block by Woods provided the 20th point. ACU closed what was the largest lead of 13 down to 11, but Woods closed with a kill and an assisted block with Walden, and the Lobos took advantage of a service error to win the set, 25-13.
Guereca opened the match hitting .667 with four kills on six swings (4-0-6) and Walden tallied 12 assists and six digs to lead the Lobos in both categories.
While much closer to start the second set, the Lobos went on a 5-0 run that pushed the score from seven-all to 12-7 UNM, and made another 5-0 run to double the lead at 18-9 Lobos. Blocks again allowed the Lobos to take the set, with Woods, Wolf and Walden combining for a block and Walden and Jaloba joining up for a block that gave the Lobos the 25-13 set win after a Hayley Torres service ace. UNM closed the set scoring the last four points of the set.
In total, the Lobos tallied 6.0 blocks in the second set with Jaloba having a solo and three assisted and Walden having three assisted. Also aiding the Lobos were three service aces, with one apiece from Guereca, Walden and Torres. While there were four ties, the lead never changed sides.
The third set was the closest of the match with 10 ties and four lead changes, with the Wildcats taking their first lead of the match at 3-2. Neither team could create more separation than two points through 32 points before the Lobos began to take control of the set with four-straight points for a 20-16 lead.
Abilene Christian held close, getting back within two at 22-20, but Biassou and Wolf stepped up to get the Lobos to match point at 24-20. A service error delayed the end of the match temporarily as Woods and Walden closed with a final block for the 25-21 set win and sweep.
Guereca and Wolf led with four kills each and the Lobo middle blockers continue their control of the net with 4.0 blocks as Woods added a solo and two assisted.
The Lobos (5-0) close out the Wildcat Classic with a final match against Texas Southern on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MT/ 2:30 p.m. CT.
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