Lobos Remain Perfect in Conference with Win at SDSU
SAN DIEGO, Calif.— On Thursday night, The University of New Mexico volleyball team achieved something that hadn’t been done since 2009 and in the process achieved another feat that hadn’t been done since 2014.
With their four-set win over San Diego State, the Lobos defeated the Aztecs for the first time in San Diego since Oct. 31, 2009, also in four sets, and are 3-0 in conference for the first time since 2014.
Thursday’s win also marked the first win against SDSU since Nov. 19, 2016, a span of eight matches.
A large part of the victory was due to the triple threat of Kaitlynn Biassou, Uxue Guereca and Kali Wolf, with the trio combining for 35 kills led by Biassou’s 13. Guereca and Wolf each finished with 11 kills, with Guereca hitting an efficient .526 (11-1-19) and Wolf adding four service aces and four digs to her night’s tally.
Melissa Walden again contributed a double-double, her ninth of the season, with 27 assists and a team-high 10 digs and Emma Smith again was a force at middle blocker with six assisted blocks.
Smith opened up the match with a kill and the Lobos and Aztecs kept it close for the first eight points before SDSU pulled ahead 7-4. However, the Lobos responded to tie the set at seven on a Guereca kill, and proceeded to win the next six points to pull away at 13-7, again on a Guereca kill. Wolf added three service aces and a kill in what turned out to be a 9-0 UNM run to take control of the set. SDSU closed back within two at 12-10, but Guereca again answered for the Lobos with a kill to keep the Lobos in front. A Biassou service ace pushed the Lobos to set point at 24-17 and a Wolf kill provided the final point for the 25-20 set win.
Guereca, Biassou and Wolf each finished with four kills in the first set, with Guereca hitting .800 (4-0-5). As a team, New Mexico outhit San Diego State .400 to .040.
The second set was again close though the first 10 points, and again the Lobos used a run to take and maintain the lead. After the Aztecs pulled in front 6-4, the Lobos used a 4-0 scoring run, which included another Wolf ace, to move ahead 8-6. SDSU closed within one at 10-9, and again Guereca provided a kill to keep the Lobos in front. A 3-0 Lobo run that included a Smith kill, an Avital Jaloba and Biassou block and an Alena Moldan ace, created some separation at 14-10 UNM. SDSU answered with a run of its own to close within one at 15-14, but a service error followed by an Aztec attack error thwarted the comeback. A Wolf kill and Smith and Guereca block restored the four-point Lobo lead at 19-15 and from there, a kill by Smith, a kill by Biassou, two SDSU attack errors, and consecutive kills by Wolf and Biassou closed the set for the identical 25-20 set win.
SDSU extended the match with a 25-16 third set win, but the Lobos made sure to put the match away in the fourth, capturing the match in a 25-21 fourth set win. An Aztec service error combined with a Smith and Biassou block and Guereca service ace allowed the Lobos to go ahead early at 3-1. While SDSU tied the set at three, the Lobos reasserted their control with a 3-0 run. The Aztecs kept it close late in the set at 16-15, 17-16, and tying the set at 17-all before a Guereca kill gave UNM the 18-17 lead, and from there, the Lobos didn’t relinquish their lead. A Smith and Guereca block followed by a Jaloba ace put the Lobos up 20-17, and although SDSU got within one at 22-21, a Biassou kill, an Aztec attack error and a final Biassou kill ensured the Lobos prevailed with the victory.
Biassou and Guereca again recorded four kills in the fourth set, with Guereca finishing with another .800 hitting percentage effort in the fourth (4-0-5). The three service aces by Jaloba, Guereca and Moldan proved to be pivotal for the Lobos in the tight set, with UNM holding the edge in the category 3-0.
The Lobos improve to 12-2 (3-0 MW) with the win and extend their winning streak to four matches. UNM remains on the road to face UNLV on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. PT/ 2 p.m. MT.