Lobos Sweep UMKC in Houston Opener
HOUSTON, Texas – New Mexico Volleyball got back in the win column in its first match of this weekend’s Howard-Gerwig Memorial Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Houston Christian’s Sharp Gym, holding Kansas City off late in all three sets (25-22, 25-21, 25-22) for the first sweep of the season.
The Lobos improve to 3-1 overall, with a neutral-site match against Howard tomorrow at 2 p.m. MT and a true road matchup with Houston Christian Saturday at noon. The win makes it four seasons in a row in which UNM wins at least three of its first four matches to open the season — prior to the fall of 2021, the Lobos hadn’t done that since 2017.
UNM leaned on a balanced attack that saw four Lobos record six or more kills – led by eight each from Lauryn Payne and Kialah Jefferson – with five service aces in total, the last of which from Falanika Danielson sealed the sweep at match point.
The ACE from Falanika Danielson seals the sweep 🎯#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/27FI8MVOpi
— New Mexico Volleyball (@UNMLoboVB) September 5, 2024
Jada Bouyer (7 kills), Elizabeth Woods (6 kills), Naomi Chankoumi (3 kills), Reagan Miller (3 kills) and Madeleine Miller (2 kills) made it seven Lobos that finished with multiple kills, with Bouyer supplying four in the third and Chankoumi producing three more on three attempts late in the same set as the Lobos stifled a late UMKC rally for the third and final time.
Despite hitting only .167 on the match, the Lobos held the ‘Roos below .200 hitting in all three sets, keeping them to a match-low .120 clip in the third as they put them away for good. UMKC didn’t take the lead once in either of the first two sets until putting together a spirited rally in a third set that saw seven ties and two lead changes, with UNM posting a higher sideout percentage in all three sets after converting at a match-high 72% clip in the first.
“We expected a battle and that is exactly what we got with a gritty Kansas City squad,” said Head Coach Jon Newman-Gonchar. “A solid win and a great way to start off the HCU Tournament.
“The tests only get tougher as this tournament carries on. Excited for this Lobo squad to keep learning and growing together!”
Madeleine Miller finished with 24 assists and eight digs on the day, serving up two aces while Angela Crosetti and Elizabeth Woods both added one more apiece. Woods — who had never served in a collegiate match in her four-year career until UNM’s season opener against Tulane last Friday — is now up to team-leading 4 service aces in the first four matches of the season, with Miller, Crosetti and Jefferson all right behind her at three.
Danielson added a team-high 15 digs while coming one assist short of a double, while Kialah Jefferson surpassed double-digit digs for the third time in her first four matches as a Lobo with 11 to lead three other Lobos that finished with five or more on the day. Jefferson also led the Lobos in blocks with three (2 BA, 1 BS) to finish with a team-high 10.5 points, with Woods and Miller adding two block assists each as UNM matched UMKC with five team blocks.
ALL-TIME SERIES
New Mexico improves to 2-0 against the ‘Roos all-time, both straight-sets victories on a neutral court. This was the first meeting between the two teams since 2013.
SET ONE – NEW MEXICO 25, KANSAS CITY 22
SET TWO – NEW MEXICO 25, KANSAS CITY 21
SET THREE – NEW MEXICO 25, KANSAS CITY 22
UP NEXT
Tomorrow’s neutral-site match at Sharp Gym against Howard (2-1) is set for a 2 p.m. MT first serve. This weekend’s action won’t be broadcast, but fans can follow live stats along with other matchday info at GoLobos.com/FollowVB. Follow @UNMLoboVB on socials for match coverage, promotional information, updates, behind-the-scenes content and more.