Lobos Fall to Utah State in Three

LOGAN, Utah— After a competitive second set, the New Mexico volleyball team dropped Saturday’s match to Utah State in straight sets.

Kaitlynn Biassou again led the Lobos with eight kills in the match, but Avital Jaloba provided a spark for the Lobos with seven kills, a .400 hitting percentage with just one attack error, and a team-high four total blocks. Biassou and Alena Moldan contributed two service aces and Moldan and Uxue Guereca led with 12 digs each in the match.

Utah State took the early lead in the first set and led from start to finish in the 25-13 set win, before the Lobos found some footing in the second set.

UNM answered to tie the set at two and then fought back from down 12-7 to close within one at 14-13 on an Elizabeth Woods kill before rallying to tie the set at 18 on a 4-1 run. The Lobos held momentum to take a 22-19 lead on a Biassou kill, and a Jaloba kill maintained the three-point lead at 23-20 but the Aggies closed to tie the set at 23 and forced set point at 24-23. A Biassou kill fought it off before the Aggies won the next two points for the 26-24 set win.

Biassou and Jaloba each had five kills in the second set with Jaloba hitting .833 (5-0-6) and adding a block assist.

The third set was close early with ties at one and two before Utah State again pulled away with a 10-4 lead. UNM got as close as four at 15-11 on a Bissou kill, but the Aggies continued to control the set in the 25-15 win for the match.

With the loss, the Lobos fall to 17-8 overall, 8-6 in MW play and are tied with UNLV for fourth in the conference standings.

UNM closes out its home schedule with the Rebels and San Diego State on Thursday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 13, respectively at the Johnson Center.