LAS VEGAS, Nev.— The Lobo volleyball team fell in three sets on Saturday afternoon by scores of 25-15, 25-21 and 25-18.
Kaitlynn Biassou led UNM with nine kills, with Alena Moldan and Uxue Guereca reaching double figures in digs with 14 and 10 respectively. The Lobos finished with 8.0 total blocks, led by four assisted from Avital Jaloba, and had three solo blocks with one each from Biassou, Kali Wolf and Lea Zurlinden.
UNLV scored the first six points of the match and led from start to finish in the first set with the Lobos getting as close as four points at 11-7 before UNLV won 25-15. Biassou opened the match with four kills in the first set, hitting .444 (4-0-9) and accounted for one assisted blocks.
The second set was much closer early on with four ties, however, the Lobos gained separation with a 4-0 run on kills by Guereca and Zurlinden, a Rebel attack error and a Wolf block. UNLV answered to tie the set at eight, and following ties at nine and 10, went on a 5-1 run to lead 15-11. Although a Biassou kill ended the run, the Rebels scored the next three points to build an 18-12 lead. UNM pulled within two late at 21-19 after going on a 5-0 run, but UNLV won the next two points to keep the Lobos from tying the set and eventually won 25-21.
New Mexico had 4.0 total blocks in the second set to zero for UNLV, two assisted from Jaloba, an assisted block from Lauryn Payne and Guereca, and a solo block each from Biassou and Wolf. The Lobos outhit UNLV .189 to .156 in the set with three more kills for Biassou, but lost the service battle 3-0 with three service errors to two for UNLV.
Biassou opened the third set with a kill, although UNLV took the next three points to gain the early edge. UNM answered to tie the set at three and then again at four, benefiting from errors from the Rebels. UNLV again created some separation at 9-6, leading by as many as four at 12-8 and 15-11, with the Lobos closing the gap at 15-13 on a Zurlinden block. UNM remained close down the stretch, keeping within two at 18-16 and 20-18, but UNLV closed the match with the final five points for the 25-18 win.
With Saturday’s result, the Lobos are 14-10 on the season and 5-9 in the Mountain West. UNM remains on the road next week to face Colorado State (Nov. 10) and Wyoming (Nov. 12) before closing the Mountain West schedule at home against Utah State (Nov. 17) and Boise State (Nov. 19).