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Lobos Defeat Broncos in Four Hard-Fought Sets

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Led by Kaitlynn Biassou’s 19 kills and two service aces and Uxue Guereca’s second double-double of the week in 18 kills and 10 digs, The University of New Mexico volleyball team earned a closely-fought, four set victory over Boise State (22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20) on Saturday at the Johnson Center.

“I’m very impressed with our team’s response after the first set against a very good Boise State team,” commented head coach Jon Newman-Gonchar. “I’m very excited for our team and for the progress we’re making this season; each and every match getting better and better.”

The two teams combined for 41 ties and 24 lead changes in the match, with both teams trading point for point for much of the afternoon.

Melissa Walden recorded a career-high 42 assists with Alena Moldan finishing with a match-high 20 digs for the second time this week. Elizabeth Woods registered five assisted blocks, with Avital Jaloba closely behind with four.

UNM edged out the Broncos in kills (63-52), assists (57-51), digs (56-47), total blocks (10.0-7.0) and in hitting percentage (.299-.241).

Biassou started off with six kills and hitting .667 in the opening set, as the Broncos and Lobos combined for 14 ties and seven lead changes. The Lobos got out to an early 3-1 lead with Biassou accounting for two kills and Guereca the other before Boise State answered to tie the set at three. The three-all tie was one of seven in the first 18 points before the Lobos reclaimed a two-point lead at 11-9 on a Bronco attack error and a Biassou kill. BSU however tied the set back up at 11, with neither team able to create much separation with ties at 14, 15, 16 and 17. A 3-0 Bronco run proved to be the difference as Boise State went ahead 19-17, and although the Lobos fought off set point to close within two on a Woods kill, the Broncos took the opening set 25-22.

The second set followed the same pattern with the Lobos scoring the first two points on a Jaloba and Biassou block followed by a Biassou kill, but the Broncos kept within reach to tie the set at three. Each time the Lobos were able to create some separation, BSU found an answer to keep the set close. When UNM held a two-point lead at 8-6 on a Walden kill, BSU answered with a 3-1 run to create a tie at nine. A Hayley Torres service ace gave UNM an 11-10 lead, but the Broncos won the next two points to retake the lead. However, UNM answered with a 3-0 run that included a Kassie McGill kill and kills by Biassou and Jaloba to restore the two-point lead at 14-12. A Guereca kill pushed the Lobos to the 20-point mark and a four-point margin at 20-16 and from there, the Lobos closed with kills by Woods, Jaloba and consecutive Biassou kills to reach set point at 24-21. Boise State fought it off once before Guereca tied the match at one set apiece with a kill and an identical 25-22 set score.

Biassou added five kills in the second set, hitting .500, while also serving up an ace.

Boise State got out to the early lead in the third set, with the Lobos the one to answer to tie the set at four. The Broncos took a 10-7 lead, and again the Lobos responded to tie the set at 10 and proceeded to take an 11-10 lead. There would be little separation between either team until late in the set, when the Lobos closed on a 4-0 run behind a Guereca kill, a Guereca and Woods block, a Woods kill and a final Guereca kill as the Lobos took the set 25-21 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Guereca led the way for the Lobos in the third set with six kills, while Woods added four assisted blocks in the set that had 14 ties and eight lead changes.

The score between the two teams was close early on in the fourth set with five ties in the first 14 points before Boise State created some separation at 13-10. The Broncos continued to lead until back-to-back Guereca and Biassou kills brought the Lobos within one and tied at the set at 18, and a Moldan kill gave UNM its first lead since 2-1. After BSU tied the set at 19, a kill by Woods restored the lead for good for the Cherry and Silver, as the Lobos took control of the set, going on to score the next five points on a Guereca solo block, a Guereca kill, a Biassou ace and a final Guereca kill to give UNM match point at 24-19. Boise State fought it off once before Guereca sealed the set and the match with a final kill.

Guereca registered seven kills in the fourth set, hitting .462 while Biassou added five kills and an ace. As a team, the Lobos had their strongest set in the fourth, hitting .378 with a match-high 20 kills compared to 10 kills by the Broncos.

Saturday’s win snapped a five-match losing streak to the Broncos that dated back to 2018 and was the first home win since Oct. 4, 2014.

The Lobos improve to 14-3 on the season, 5-1 in conference. Up next, UNM travels to Colorado State and Wyoming for matches on Thursday, Oct. 14 and Saturday, Oct. 16, respectively.

“We’re thrilled to get back on the road next week and continue to learn and grow as we face two great opponents in Colorado State and Wyoming,” noted Newman-Gonchar.