LAST TIME VS. THE AGGIES
UNM swept the 2024 series 2–0, its first back-to-back wins over NMSU since 2014. Across seven sets, the Lobos averaged 11.4 kills/set on .222 hitting while limiting NMSU to just .102. UNM also dominated at the net, averaging 2.86 blocks/set compared to NMSU’s 1.43 – the Lobo defense held NMSU to just .102 hitting across both matches.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Entering this week, UNM is 32-46 against their rivals to the south all-time in a series that dates back to 1974. The two teams are an even 5-5 over their last 10 matchups after the Lobos lost their previous three meetings with the Aggies prior to the rivalry’s nearly five-year hiatus.
LOBO STAT RANKINGS
Heading into this week, the Lobos rank among the Top 100 teams in NCAA D1 in 11 categories -- they rank among the Top 3 in the Mountain West in all of them.
- Aces per Set – 1st MW | 60th NCAA (1.86)
- Assists per Set – 3rd MW | 76th NCAA (12.29)
- Digs per Set – 2nd MW | 38th NCAA (15.66)
- Hitting Percentage – 3rd MW | 89th NCAA (.243)
- Kills per Set – 3rd MW | 97th NCAA (13.11)
- Match W-L % – 2nd MW | 45th NCAA (.778)
- Team Assists – 2nd MW | 38th NCAA (430)
- Team Attacks per Set – 3rd MW | 74th NCAA (35.51)
- Team Digs – 2nd MW | 39th NCAA (548)
- Team Kills – 2nd MW | 43rd NCAA (459)
- Team Service Aces – 1st MW | 41st NCAA (65)
- Team Total Attacks – 2nd MW | 54th NCAA (1,243)
LAST WEEKEND
Shorthanded after early-season injuries, the Lobos suffered their first setback of the year last weekend at CBU's The Joust, dispatching CSU Fullerton in four (27-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23) but falling to Portland State (25-20, 22-25, 23-25, 22-25) and host Cal Baptist (22-25, 20-25, 25-18, 16-25) to drop to 7-2 on the season. The Lobos hit .219 overall with 12.75 kills/set, 27 blocks, and 16 service aces.
- Addison France – Averaged 3.17 kills/set (38 total) while hitting .230; also added 21 assists and 12 blocks for a team-best 44.5 points.
- Uliana Yastrub – Posted 26 kills (2.17/set) with 5 aces and 21 digs, finishing with 32.5 points on the weekend.
- Seenane Brewer – Solid two-way contributor with 22 kills (1.83/set) and 23 digs; chipped in 1 block assist and 22.5 points.
- Zoe Leonard – Efficient on the pin with 17 kills on .273 hitting, 7 blocks, and 25 points total -- also served up three aces in total.
- Solia Angilau – Averaged 1.44 kills/set with 13 total, adding 13 blocks to tie for the team lead.
- Reagan Miller – Broke through with a .517 hitting clip, landing 16 kills on 29 swings across two matches -- finished with a career-high nine kills on Saturday.
- Madeleine Miller – Directed the offense with 99 assists (8.25/set), while also contributing 44 digs and 9.5 points. Finished with a double-double in all three matches -- she's now recorded a double-double five times this season and in each of her last four matches.
- Camila Canedo – Anchored the back row with a team-high 51 digs (4.25/set) while also serving up 4 aces.
- Madison Blanco – Steady libero support with 20 digs (1.67/set) and 2 service aces.
MILLER, FRANCE TAKE HOME MW WEEKLY HONORS
Fresh off an undefeated weekend and nonconference tournament crown at the Tarleton State Invitational, New Mexico’s Madeleine Miller and Addison France took home Old Trapper Mountain West Offensive Player & Freshman of the Week honors, the league announced last Monday.
It’s the first weekly conference honor for both Lobos and the first of the season for New Mexico. Both Miller and France were also named to the Tarleton State Invitational All-Tournament Team for their efforts as the Lobos defeated Tarleton State in five, Northwestern State in straight sets and Prairie View A&M in four.
MW OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MADELEINE MILLER | JR | S
Miller served up 15 aces in total (1.25/set) – including six in a five-set win over Tarleton on Thursday and seven in a four-set neutral site win over Prairie View on Saturday – to lead Mountain West players over the past week. UNM led the conference in total aces (32) and aces per set (2.67) in that span.
Miller’s seven service aces on Saturday rank as the second-most in a single match in the rally scoring era and tie for third all-time.
The junior setter also averaged 9.67 assists per set – second-most in the conference over the past week – with two outings of 40 or more assists on Thursday and Saturday, finishing with a double-double on Saturday with 19 digs. The Lobo offense averaged 12.67 assists per set despite missing starting hitters Naomi Chankoumi and Lauryn Payne due to injury, hitting at a .389 clip on her set attempts (116/298).
In the finale win over Prairie View, Miller finished with 48 assists, 19 digs, seven aces, three kills and four block assists.
Added seven kills and five block assists to finish with 24.5 points in total on the weekend and was named to the Tarleton State Invitational All-Tournament Team for her efforts.
MW FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
ADDISON FRANCE | FR | S/OH
France led the Lobos in kills (40 / 3.33 per set) as a true freshman over their 3-0 weekend at the Tarleton State Invitational, being named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts.
The 6-3 lefty hitter/setter hit .351 on the weekend – fifth-best among all players in the conference this week – while ranking sixth among MW players in kills per set in that span as well. She also ranked eighth in the conference over the past week in points per set (3.50), adding 11 digs and four block assists in total.
France notched a career-high 15 kills vs. Tarleton State on Friday before improving that career best to 17 in the Lobos’ final match of the weekend vs. Prairie View – she also hit a team-high .438 with eight kills in Friday’s win over Northwestern State.
EARLY RETURNS FROM MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON
New Mexico was voted to finish ninth in the Mountain West Preseason Poll by the league’s coaches ahead of the 2025 season, the league announced last Wednesday.
Utah State is favored to win the 2025 MW regular-season title, having earned 114 points and seven first-place votes. Under the direction of head coach Rob Neilson, the Aggies finished the 2024 season 15-14 overall and 12-6 in Conference action and appeared in the Mountain West tournament for the fourth consecutive year since the event was brought back in 2021.
For the 2025 season, the Mountain West will expand to 12 members thanks to the late addition of Grand Canyon to the conference.
Colorado State has been tabbed the runner-up with 106 points and three first-place votes followed by San Diego State in third with 96 points and the final two first-place votes. In fourth is Fresno State (86 points) and predicted to finish fifth is Boise State (73). UNLV and Wyoming are tied to finish sixth with 72 points each. In eighth is the league’s newest member, Grand Canyon (61), followed by New Mexico with 37. Behind the Lobos are Nevada (32), San José State (31) and Air Force (12).
Fresno State senior Addison Haluska was tabbed the MW Women’s Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year, joined by Boise State’s Bre Mitchell, San Diego State’s Taylor Underwood, UNLV’s Basia Latos, Utah State’s Tierney Barlow and Kayliee Kofe and Wyoming’s Paige Lauterwasser on this year’s Mountain West preseason team.
