New Mexico will sport a completely different look this year than in recent years.
After five years, UNM’s dominant right side hitter Chantale Riddle had her NCAA eligibility expire and the volleyball team must find a new identity.
A season ago, Riddle was chasing two prestigious milestones in UNM history. She became New Mexico’s all-time kill leader and the University’s leader in points scored.
“We are a more diverse team this year where last year we were based heart and soul around Chantale,” senior setter Hannah Johnson said. “I think this year we’re going to shock some people. I think everything will be distributed a lot more and everyone is going to have a big role.”
Head coach Jeff Nelson predicts the Lobos will come with more of an balalnced attack rather than drawing his game plan around the squad’s only All-American.
“I feel that we have better balance and better ball control with our new lineups,” Nelson said. “So I actually think we’ll be a lot stronger.”
Nelson said junior outside hitter Cassie House has taken over the duties at the right side hitter position.
“She’s as big of a block as Chantale was so we haven’t really missed a beat there,” Nelson said. “She’s learning the hitting part of that position, but she’s a really high quality player.”
It’s hard to imagine a team getting stronger after losing one of the most dominant players in UNM history, but House said the rapport in the locker room is something the Lobos will rely on down the stretch.
“This team has a lot of really good chemistry and we’ve all connected really well from the beginning of preseason,” House said. “Everyday we mesh better and gel more on the court and we have so much fun together on the court.”
Julia Warren also said the team has been working on coming together as one unit as opposed to a bunch of individuals.
Last year, Warren moved from her natural slugging position of outside hitter to a more conservative role in the middle of the court. Warren will likely move back to outside hitter from the libero spot she took over in the 2014 campaign.
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“I think last year we were missing a couple of intangible things with chemistry,” Warren said. “… I can feel a difference on the court already.”
Warren moving back to a big-hitting role will likely provide Johnson with another viable offensive weapon in the absence of Riddle.
“Because we have hitters in every position: outside, middle, and right side that I know I can trust, I think I am just going to have to do my job as a setter and put the ball up for our offense to get the job done,” Johnson said.
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at assistantsports@dailylobo.com or on twitter @Liam_CE.
