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University of New Mexico Lobos athletics
Mercedes Pacheco - Women's Volleyball - University of New Mexico Lobos Athletics
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Mercedes Pacheco

Position

L/DS

Height

5-2

Class

Fr.

Hometown

Albuquerque, N.M.

NEW MEXICO

Junior Year | 2017: Competed all 32 matches on the season, with 20 starts at defensive specialist and three starts at libero … Finished the season with 242 digs (2.12/set), third-most on the team … Posted a five matches with double-figure digs during a stretch of seven matches, including a 17 vs. Portland on Sept. 8 … Added back-to-back matches of 14 digs vs. Toledo (Sept. 15) and Tennessee Tech (Sept. 16), with the second coming as the team’s libero … Logged a career high-tying 18 digs at Nevada on Oct. 5 … Capped the season with 10 digs vs. Air Force … Also registered 29 assists and 18 service aces on the season … Her 18 aces finished as third-best on the team

Sophomore Year | 2016: Saw action in 31 of the team’s 32 matches, primarily entering as a defensive specialist … Finished the year with 114 digs, fourth-best on the team … Had a season-best 11 digs against Utah State on Nov. 12 … Posted seven digs at South Florida on Sept. 2 … Capped her season with at least five digs in six of the final seven matches of the year, including eight digs vs. Fresno State on Oct. 27 … Also had three aces and eight assists

Freshman Year | 2015: Played in 29 matches, including 11 starts at libero and five starts at defensive specialist … Finished the season with 191 digs (2.20 per set) … Recorded a season-high 18 digs twice, with 18 at Ball State on Aug. 29 and 18 vs. SMU on Sept. 5 … Notched double-digit digs six times … Added 40 assists for the Lobos … Earned a kill vs. San Diego State on Oct. 24

HIGH SCHOOL

2015 graduate of St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque … Lettered four years in volleyball for the Sartans under head coaches Diana Strickland and Jeanne Fairchild … Played a role on St. Pius’ state and district championships teams in 2012 and 2013, and helped Pius to two more district championships in 2014 and 2015 … Earned spots on the all-district team and all-state team every year of high school (2012-15) … Named Metro Player of the Year and District Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 … Also played club with ARVC Shock, winning regionals and placing fifth at nationals in the 18’s age group

PERSONAL

Born October 16 to Jennifer and Richard Pacheco … Has two older brothers, Patrick, 25, and Nathanael, 22 … Her brother Nathanael played soccer at Gonzaga, while her father swam for the Lobos … Lists Ronda Rousey as her favorite athlete and steak as her favorite food