VB Preview: Lobos Host San Jose State This Weekend

VB Preview: Lobos Host San Jose State This WeekendVB Preview: Lobos Host San Jose State This Weekend

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Winners of five of their last six and four in a row at The Pit - Powered by Nusenda, New Mexico Volleyball remains home for more Mountain West action this weekend when the Lobos (7-11, 5-3 MW) host San Jose State (7-12, 2-6 MW) Friday and Sunday at 7 p.m. MT.

New Mexico is tied for second place in the league standings heading into the fifth week of conference play after splitting last weekend’s matches with UTEP. The Lobos will need to stay in the Top Four in the Mountain West over the next 10 conference matches to earn their first trip to the conference tournament since 2023.

This weekend’s matches also kick off a four-match homestand for the Lobos, which are one of just two teams still unbeaten at home in conference play along with Hawai’i (16-3, 8-0 MW). They’ll look to snap a three-match losing streak to SJSU and earn their first home win over the Spartans since 2019.

Both matchups with the Spartans will be available to stream via MW+, with live stats for both matches available via GoLobos.com/VBStats. Follow @UNMLoboVB on IG, X and Facebook for match updates and coverage, promotional information, behind-the-scenes content and more.

New Mexico (7-11, 5-3 MW)
San Jose State (7-12, 2-6 MW)

Brian Hosfeld Media Availability (10/20)

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2026 MW Women's Volleyball Standings
School Conf CPct. Overall Pct. Streak
Hawai‘i 8-0 1.000 16-3 .842 W8
UC Davis 5-3 .625 9-10 .474 L1
New Mexico 5-3 .625 7-11 .389 W1
UTEP 4-4 .500 12-8 .600 L1
UNLV 4-4 .500 8-11 .421 W2
Wyoming 3-5 .375 10-9 .526 L2
Grand Canyon 3-5 .375 9-10 .474 L1
Air Force 3-5 .375 7-12 .368 W1
Nevada 3-5 .375 5-13 .278 L2
San José State 2-6 .250 7-12 .368 W1

ALL-TIME SERIES
New Mexico leads the all-time series with San José State 17–14, including an 8–5 record in Albuquerque, a 7–8 mark on the road and a 2–1 record at neutral sites. The Spartans have won three consecutive meetings and eight of the last 10, with UNM’s most recent victory coming in four sets on Oct. 19, 2023, in San José. The Lobos are seeking their first home win over SJSU since Nov. 14, 2019, when they also prevailed in four sets.

UNM won nine consecutive meetings from 1998–2015, including back-to-back season sweeps from 2013–15. The Lobos’ most recent straight-set victory in the series came at home on Oct. 6, 2018.

THE TURNAROUND CONTINUES
UNM has followed a seven-match losing streak by winning five of its last six matches and extending its home winning streak to four. After sweeping two-match series against Nevada and UC Davis, the Lobos bounced back from a straight-set loss at UTEP with a four-set victory over the Miners at the Johnson Center. UNM has won 15 of 23 sets during the turnaround after taking just one of 22 sets during the skid, improving to 5-3 in Mountain West play and 4-1 at home.

UNM’s hitting percentage has climbed from .129 during the losing streak to .252 over the last six matches, with kills increasing from 9.95 to 12.91 per set and assists rising from 9.45 to 12.09. Defensively, UNM has held opponents to .188 hitting during the turnaround, down from .268, while reducing opponents’ kills from 14.86 to 12.39 per set. The Lobos have outdug opponents 15.17–12.78 per set during the six-match stretch after being outdug 16.64–13.14 during the skid.

Mina Stanojevic has led the offensive surge, increasing her production from 2.36 to 3.30 kills per set while improving her hitting percentage from .121 to .219. Uliana Yastrub has emerged as another key option, averaging 2.16 kills per set on .207 hitting after recording 1.14 kills per set with a -.094 percentage during the losing streak. Addison France has raised her hitting percentage from .128 to .266 while increasing both her kills (2.38 to 2.74) and digs (1.95 to 2.57) per set. Reagan Miller’s efficiency has improved from .270 to .337, while Madeleine Miller’s assists have climbed from 7.82 to 9.87 per set.

LAST WEEKEND RECAP
New Mexico split its home-and-home series with UTEP last week, bouncing back from Thursday’s straight-set loss in El Paso (22-25, 14-25, 22-25) with a four-set victory Saturday at the Johnson Center (23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-19). The Lobos have won five of their last six matches, improving to 7-11 overall and 5-3 in Mountain West play while moving to 4-1 at home.

After being held to 27 kills on .065 hitting Thursday, UNM doubled its kill output Saturday and hit .268, including a .500 clip with 17 kills and just one error in the second set. Mina Stanojevic led the bounceback effort with 15 kills, 10 digs and two aces, while Addison France added 11 kills on .290 hitting. Madeleine Miller finished with 39 assists, 12 digs and eight kills on .538 hitting, and Seenane Brewer contributed nine kills and 11 digs.

Stanojevic paced the Lobos across the two matches with 22 kills (3.14 per set), 21 digs and two aces. France totaled 20 kills on .250 hitting to go with 16 digs and a team-high four blocks, while Miller recorded double-doubles in both matches, combining for 60 assists and 22 digs. Camila Canedo anchored the back row with 12 digs in each match, averaging 3.43 per set over the series.

2026 NOTES

AN ICONIC RETURN
In 1996-1999, UNM averaged 1,026 attendance at home volleyball matches at The Pit. All four of the most-attended UNM Volleyball matches in program history took place at The Pit:

Opponent Attendance Date
1. Colorado State 7,008 10/31/92
2. Utah 6,152 10/20/90
3. TCU 5,114 10/5/96
4. Nebraska 4,473 9/10/16

2,544 fans were in attendance for UNM’s home match vs. NMSU -- their highest-attended home match since 2016, when 4,473 fans were there for a matchup with Nebraska. Through the first two exhibitions and five regular-season matches at home,  the Lobos are averaging 1,499 fans per match – on pace for one of the Top 10 highest single-season averages in program history and highest since 2011. UNM’s total attendance through those six matches (10,492) has already surpassed the entire 2025 season at the Johnson Center (8,711).

The building ushered in a new era on February 26, 2026, when The University of New Mexico, UNM Sports Properties, and Nusenda Credit Union announced an historic 10-year partnership that provides an average annual value of $1.74 million in support of UNM Athletics. As part of the agreement, University Arena – The Pit officially was renamed The Pit - Powered by Nusenda, preserving the iconic identity of one of college basketball’s most storied venues while recognizing Nusenda’s longstanding investment in the University and the state. 

This fall, The Pit celebrates its 60th anniversary, with its first game played on Dec. 1, 1966. UNM is 36-42 at University Arena / The Pit all-time, with a 10-3 record there since 2020. The Lobos improved to 4-1 at home this season with their win over UTEP last Saturday.

REAGAN HEATING UP
Reagan Miller has emerged as a focal point of the Lobos’ offense, averaging 2.49 kills per set with 142 kills in 57 sets across 16 matches beginning with her breakthrough against Northern Colorado on Sept. 4. Miller delivered a career-high 15 kills without an error on 22 swings (.682) in that win and has reached double figures six more times, matching her career high with 15 kills on .650 hitting against New Mexico State on Sept. 7.

Miller contributed seven kills on .400 hitting with two blocks in Saturday’s four-set win over UTEP. She previously totaled 14 kills and seven blocks across the Lobos’ two road wins over UC Davis, including nine kills on .375 hitting with three blocks in the four-set victory Oct. 10. That followed a .563 hitting performance across two wins over Nevada, when she totaled 20 kills with just two errors on 32 swings.

Miller has 146 kills in 60 sets this season, surpassing her 122 kills from last season. Her 2.43 kills per set is up from 1.36 a year ago, and she ranks fourth in the Mountain West in hitting percentage (.340). She also leads UNM with 43 total blocks, including 16 solo stops, and averages 2.93 points per set. She set career highs with 31 attacks and five solo blocks against Fresno State on Sept. 18, finishing with 13 kills and six total blocks.

MADS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF HISTORY

Madeleine Miller ranks No. 10 in UNM history with 2,592 career assists, needing 43 more to pass Sarah Kwasigroch (2,634, 2005–08) for No. 9 on the all-time list. Miller has 587 assists in 66 sets this season after producing a career-high 984 last year and 854 as a sophomore. She ranked among the Mountain West’s top 10 in assists per set in each of those seasons.

Miller recorded double-doubles in both matches against UTEP, totaling 60 assists and 22 digs across seven sets. She finished with 21 assists and 10 digs Thursday before delivering 39 assists and 12 digs in Saturday’s four-set win. She also matched her career high with eight kills on .538 hitting in the victory, adding two blocks and an ace. Miller has six matches with at least 40 assists this season, highlighted by a season-high 50 in the five-set win at UC Davis on Oct. 8.

Miller leads active Mountain West players in career assists and ranks fourth in career assists per set (7.38). This season, she ranks third in the conference at 8.89 assists per set and leads UNM with 18 service aces, averaging 0.27 per set. She has also recorded four double-doubles and totaled 124 digs.

With 408 more assists, Miller would become the eighth player in program history to reach 3,000. Reaching that milestone this season would require 995 assists, 11 more than her career-best season total.

MILA DIGGIN’ IT

After recording 485 digs in her first season — the seventh-most in a single season in UNM history — Brazilian fifth-year libero Camila Canedo continues to anchor the Lobos’ back row. An All-Mountain West honorable mention selection in 2025, she added 23 aces and 109 assists while leading the conference in total digs and digs per set (4.33).

Through 18 matches in 2026, Canedo leads the Lobos with 256 digs and ranks second in the Mountain West at 3.88 digs per set. She has reached double figures in digs 14 times, including four matches with at least 20: a season-high 27 at UC Davis on Oct. 8, 21 against Northern Colorado on Sept. 4 and 20 each against Baylor on Sept. 12 and at Hawai‘i on Sept. 25.

Canedo recorded 12 digs in each match against UTEP, totaling 24 digs, 10 assists and an ace across the two contests. She has reached double figures in five consecutive matches, a stretch that included 45 digs across the two road wins over UC Davis. She averaged 5.00 digs per set against the Aggies, following her 27-dig performance with 18 in the four-set victory.

Canedo has 61 assists this season and is tied for second on the team with 17 service aces, averaging 0.26 per set. She has accumulated 741 digs in her two seasons at UNM.

A LOOK AT THE REMAINING SCHEDULE
New Mexico will host four straight matches from Oct. 23-31, welcoming San Jose State for Alumni Weekend on Oct. 23 and 25 before hosting Grand Canyon on Oct. 29 and 31. The Lobos then head on the road for back-to-back series at Air Force on Nov. 5 and 7 and UNLV on Nov. 12 and 14.

The regular season closes at home against Wyoming on Nov. 18 and 19, with the finale serving as Senior Day.

HOSFELD AT THE HELM
In his first head coaching job since he transformed Baylor into an NCAA Tournament team from 1996-2004, Brian Hosfeld brings more than three decades of success across the collegiate, international and club levels to the Land of Enchantment. Most recently, he helped Wichita State compile an 81-46 record over four seasons as the Shockers’ associate head coach, highlighted by an AAC Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024. Hosfeld previously became Baylor’s winningest head coach with 129 victories, leading the Bears to their first two NCAA Tournament appearances in program history. His championship pedigree also includes a 1993 national title as an assistant at Long Beach State and three consecutive Big 12 championships as an assistant at Texas (2004-10). The Longhorns reached three straight NCAA Final Fours with Hosfeld on staff, including the 2009 national championship match, while posting a 186-33 record in that span. He also touts extensive USA Volleyball experience, including a silver medal at the World University Games.

MEET THE STAFF
Hosfeld has no shortage of experience on his first staff at UNM, with over 80 years of coaching and playing experience between Associate Head Coaches Jeremiah “Jeri” Estes and Patrick Sullivan and Assistant Coach Katie Keiper.

ESTES: Jeremiah Estes brings an extensive international background to Albuquerque after coaching championship programs across Europe, Asia and the United States. His career includes national titles in Switzerland, European Champions League success in Russia and an NCAA championship at Long Beach State, along with experience working with both the U.S. and Russian national teams. Estes has coached more than 40 Olympians and most recently helped Southern reach its first conference championship match in more than 25 years. 

SULLIVAN: Patrick Sullivan brings experience from coaching stops at Bradley, Northern Iowa, Long Beach State and Golden West College, contributing in recruiting, scouting, player development and program operations. At Bradley, he helped the Braves’ middle blockers make notable gains in offensive efficiency and blocking production within the Missouri Valley Conference, while his time at Golden West included a state championship as co-head coach. Sullivan also founded and directed Stealth Volleyball, where he developed and placed athletes across multiple NCAA levels, and has worked as a recruiting coordinator and private trainer. 

KEIPER: Katie Keiper joins the Lobos after building more than 15 years of experience as a player and coach across the high school, club, collegiate and international levels. Most recently, she coached U17 and U18 teams with Great Plains Volleyball Club and led Eisenhower High School, earning Oklahoma Coaches Association Region 4 Coach of the Year honors in 2024. Her previous coaching stops include T3 VBC, 208 VBC, Gonzaga Preparatory School and College Prep Academy Volleyball Club. Keiper also brings an international edge after competing with the Lakenheath U.S. Air Force Women’s Team in England, coaching the All-Air Force European Women’s Team to gold and playing professionally on the UK Pro Beach Tour and with VLA Team Sakura. 

INTERNATIONAL CONNECTION
UNM’s 16-player roster features seven different nationalities, with players hailing from the United States, Brazil, China, Finland, Norway, Serbia and Ukraine. Four of the Lobos’ seven newcomers hail from outside the U.S.

Additionally, first-year outside Aylin Ravell (Bedford, Texas) was born in Mexico and competes for Mexico internationally.

NEW FACES IN THE MW
After Grand Canyon joined the Mountain West for volleyball last season, three new teams join the league in 2026 – UTEP, Hawai’i and UC Davis. 

UNM is 36-9 against UTEP all-time but hadn’t faced the Miners since 2022 until last weekend. The Lobos have won eight of the last 10 over UTEP.

The Lobos are now 3-0 against UC Davis, with a three-set neutral-site sweep of the Aggies in 2005 as the lone meeting between the two teams before this season.

They’re 0-13 against Hawai’i in a series that dates back to 1982, last meeting over a decade ago in 2014 when they fell 3-1 in Honolulu. The two schools were both members of the WAC (now known as the UAC) at the same time from 1979-1999.