Lobos Earn Sixth Sweep of Season with Win Over Texas Southern
ABILENE, Texas— Eighteen sets played, 18 sets won. The New Mexico Lobos earned their sixth win via sweep on Saturday afternoon behind a 25-13, 25-11, 25-11 result over Texas Southern.
Sophomore Kali Wolf had another phenomenal match with a match-high 15 kills, hitting .444, while adding seven digs, three assisted blocks and two service aces. Wolf finished with more kills than the entire Texas Southern team, with the Tigers finishing with 12.
Setter Melissa Walden also recorded another 20-plus assists, finishing with 27, while again outnumbering the entire Tiger team that had just 11.
Defensively, Alena Moldan led with 10 digs, the only player on either team to finish in double figures, and Avital Jaloba had a solo and two assisted blocks to tie Wolf for the team lead in total blocks.
As a team, the Lobos controlled the stats, holding the edge in kills (43-12), assists (37-11), aces (5-2), digs (44-30), blocks (6.0-3.0) and hitting percentage, with the Lobos finishing at .284 and the Tigers at -.120.
It took some time for the Lobos to settle in and hit their stride, with attack errors keeping the Tigers in the opening set that had seven ties and three lead changes. Following a tie at eight, Uxue Guereca gave the Lobos the lead for good with a kill.
The Tigers closed within one at 12-11, but the Lobos went on a 9-0 run scoring run to build 21-11 lead behind two Tiger attack errors, two kills apiece by Wolf and Kaitlynn Biassou, an Elizabeth Woods kill, a Wolf and Emma Smith block and a Moldan ace. The Lobos closed with kills by Wolf and Smith and a Wolf service ace to win the first set, 25-13.
In the second set, there was just one tie at 1-1 before the Lobos took control en route to the 25-11 set win. Kassie McGill registered back-to-back kills to put UNM in front 4-1 and the Lobos pulled away further with a 5-0 run to make it 11-3. Texas Southern slightly closed the gap, but a 4-0 run pushed the lead into double figures at 18-7. UNM ultimately closed the set on 6-0 run with a Tiger service error, two Tiger attack errors, a Hayley Torres service ace and a kill from both Wolf and Woods.
Both Moldan and Torres have recorded an ace in all but one match this season, including one in the last three matches.
Wolf was the catalyst in the second set with seven kills, hitting .500 in the set.
The third set contained three ties in the early stages before a 5-0 Lobo run led to a 7-3 advantage and a 6-0 run helped the Lobos to go up 14-5, which included three consecutive kills by Jaloba. Once again, UNM’s lead reached double digits, taking a 19-9 lead on a 4-0 run with a Wolf and McGill kill, a Wolf service ace and a Jaloba and McGill block. Much like the second set, New Mexico recorded the final six points of the set with a Jaloba kill, two McGill kills and three Tiger attack errors for the identical 25-11 set score.
Three Lobos tallied four kills in the third set in Jaloba, McGill and Wolf, with Jaloba hitting .667 (4-0-6), Wolf .429 (4-1-7) and McGill .300 (4-1-10). Wolf and Chloe Clark each recorded a service ace and Jaloba, Biassou, McGill and Woods each were credited with an assisted block.
Through the first two weekends of the 2021 season, the Lobos have 100 more kills (247-147), 86 more assists (223-137), 74 more digs (304-230), 29 more blocks (44.0-15.0) and 23 more aces (36-13) than their opponents. Of the 18 sets, the Lobos have held their opponents to 15 or fewer points in 12 sets and are outhitting their opponents .301 to .033.
“The Lobos put together a really nice weekend of volleyball,” noted head coach Jon Newman-Gonchar. “To play back-to-back matches on Friday against quality opponents is a very tough thing to do, and to then win both those matches speaks volumes to the maturity and mental toughness this team is building. I’m thrilled to be back at home this week, and we can’t wait to get back to the gym and build on this weekend’s success.”
The Lobos (6-0) host Southeast Louisiana, Seattle and UCSD on Friday, Sept. 10 and Saturday, Sept. 11 at The Pit. The first UNM match is set for 12:30 p.m. against Southeast Louisiana followed by a Friday night match against Seattle (6:30 p.m.) and a Saturday match against UCSD at 1 p.m.
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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.