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by Connor Gilbert

Lobos Storm Back, Beat Aztecs in Four

Lobos Storm Back, Beat Aztecs in FourLobos Storm Back, Beat Aztecs in Four

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico Volleyball fell short in the opening set but stormed back to win the next three as the Lobos (11-14, 3-11 MW) defeated San Diego State in four (22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-16) in their final home match of the season Saturday at the Johnson Center.

Lauryn Payne – one of three UNM seniors honored pregame for Senior Day at Johnson – led with 16 kills while Addison France poured in 13 more as the Lobos hit .241 as a team to SDSU’s .210 average. New Mexico has now won on Senior Day three years in a row.

Reagan Miller posted seven kills on 11 swings without any errors for team-high .636 hitting while racking up a solo block and four block assists, while Uliana Yastrub connected on nine kills and Zoe Leonard contributed four more.

The Lobos served up eight aces to the Aztecs’ six – Zoe Leonard served up three while Madison Blanco and Yastrub both served up a pair apiece. 

Camila Canedo picked up 24 of UNM’s 61 team digs – her ninth performance with 20 or more digs this season – to lead UNM, with Seenane Brewer and Leonard both finishing with six and Payne, Blanco, France and Madeleine Miller all notching five.

Madeleine Miller produced 40 of UNM’s 48 assists – her eight 40+ assist match this season – while adding a pair of kills and three block assists. UNM narrowly outblocked SDSU 11-10 thanks to multi-block efforts from Reagan Miller (1 BS / 4 BA), Payne (2 BA), Yastrub (2 BA), Leonard (5 BA) and France (1 BS / 2 BA).

After being held to .206 hitting in the opening set, the Lobos hit above .300 in the second and fourth sets, notching a match-high 18 team kills and 69% sideout rate in the second as they equalized and retook momentum.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

ALL-TIME SERIES
• With the win, UNM snaps a two-game losing streak to SDSU and improves to 31-47 against SDSU all-time. The Lobos have won seven of the last 10 meetings and split the season series in back-to-back years.
• Coach Jon Newman-Gonchar is now 7-6 against SDSU in his tenure in Albuquerque.