Lobos Show Fight in Sweep at Utah State

LOGAN, UTAH— In a match that contained two sets going to extra points and the Lobos trailing 20-14 in the first set and fighting off set point after set point in the third set, the Lobo volleyball team emerged victorious in a sweep (27-25, 25-20, 32-30) of the Utah State Aggies on Saturday.

Kaitlynn Biassou led the way with a match-high 21 kills, the fourth time this season that the senior has recorded 20-plus kills, and hit an efficient .436 (21-4-39). While typically Uxue Guereca makes her impact in the kill category, Guereca was a force at the net, finishing with two solo blocks and four assisted blocks, joined by Avital Jaloba’s five assisted blocks. Jaloba also made an impact from the service line with two aces.

UNM’s win over Utah State snapped the Aggies’ 14-match home win streak, and improve the Lobos to 23-14 all-time against the Aggies and 10-4 in Logan.

The Lobos (10-2, 1-1 MW) trailed for nearly the entirety of the opening set, fighting back from a 13-7 deficit and a 20-14 deficit, ultimately completing the comeback to tie the set at 23. The Lobos then had to fend off set points at 24-23 and 25-24 with Biassou kills before claiming the win 27-25, with a Jaloba and Biassou block providing the 26-25 Lobo lead and an Aggie attack error clinching the set.

Biassou tallied five kills in the first set, with Jaloba adding three kills, an ace and three assisted blocks, as the Lobos outhit the Aggies .182 to .095.

The second set started much of same way as the first set with USU taking an early lead and the Lobos answering back. However, the Lobo rally came earlier in the set with UNM tying the set at 13 and proceeded to hold the lead, leading 15-13 at the media break. The Lobos led 19-16 before USU closed within one at 19-18, but Guereca kept the Lobos in front with a kill, which was the closest the Aggies would get for the remainder of the set. The redshirt junior kept the Lobo momentum going with a solo block and a Biassou kill made it 22-18. Another Guereca solo block and Biassou kill pushed the Lobos to set point at 24-19, and while USU fought it off, Biassou closed the set with a final kill for the 25-20 win.

Following an early Aggie attack error that tied the third set at two, Utah State gained a little separation at 10-6. An Elizabeth Woods kill, Biassou and Lea Zurlinden block and Guereca and Zurlinden block brought the Lobos within one at 10-9, although the Aggies answered back to pull ahead 15-11. The Lobo fight returned with UNM using a 6-2 run to tie the set at 17, and after USU reached set point at 24-22, showed resiliency in fighting off two sets points on an Anilee Sher kill and a Jaloba and Woods block. Out of an Aggie timeout, USU reached set point at 25-24 to which Guereca answered with a kill. The Aggies again held set point at 26-25, 27-26, 28-27, 29-28 and 30-29 with the Lobos answering each time to tie the set. With the score at 30-all, a Woods kill put the Lobos in the lead and at match point and a USU attack error ended the set and the match in favor of the Lobos.

There was a total of nine ties and one lead change in the final set, with the Lobos fighting off eight set points and the only lead change occurring at 31-30.

Biassou closed the match with 10 kills in the third set, hitting .400 (10-2-20).

Up next: the Lobos begin a four-match homestand starting with Wyoming on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. The Lobos host Colorado State on Oct. 1 at 1 p.m., Air Force on Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m. and UNLV on Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the matches can be purchased at golobos.com/tickets.