Beach Volleyball: Lobos drop heartbreakers to Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, but win Morehead State

Struggling with close matches, the Lobo beach volleyball team could not pull out two tight games against nationally ranked teams, finishing its debut on the east coast with a sweep over Morehead State.

“We lost two heartbreakers today,” New Mexico head coach Jeff Nelson said in a release. “They were both matches we could have won, but we just didn’t stay in the moment.”

The only win of the Lobos (4-7) on Friday at the Stetson Beach Invitational in Tavares, Florida came from a 5-0 sweep against Morehead State (0-3).

UNM fell 3-2 to No. 17 (DiG poll) Florida Atlantic (10-2), and another 3-2 to No. 12 (DiG)/No. 8 (AVCA poll).

The Lobos suffered tight matches as it dropped all four five-game matches in this season.

New Mexico showed fight with a sterling performance from No. 2 pair Devanne Sours and Lise Rugland in both matches against Florida Atlantic and Georgia State.

Marisa Doran and Eastyn Baleto fell 21-16, 21-18 on court four to give Florida Atlantic the first point.

UNM tied 1-1 with a comeback from Julia Warren and Lauren Twitty on court five (16-21, 21-17, 16-14).

Sours and Rugland contributed to help Lobos lead 2-1 against the Owls. The tandem won in two sets (21-13, 21-14).

Florida Atlantic clinched the dual with two three-set wins. No. 1 slot Cassie House and Ashley Kelsey fell 21-10, 16-21, 14-16. On court three, Jackie Baro and Carly Beddingfield lost 14-21, 22-20, 11-15.

Georgia State picked up first points on court five, as Lobo pair Warren and Twitty fell in the deciding set (15-21, 21-18, 15-11).

No. 4 position Doran and Baleto came back to win in three sets (20-22, 21-15, 15-10). The Lobos tied at 1-1.

In the No. 1 spot, House and Kelsey dropped two sets 21-13, 21-14. The Panthers led 2-1.

GSU clinched the dual 3-1 on court three, as Baro and Beddingfield lost 21-15, 21-10.

Sours and Rugland did not give in and scored the second point for New Mexico in two sets ( 21-18, 21-19).

The Lobos rescheduled the lineup to play against Morehead State. Victoria Spragg paired with Warren to compete on court five and deliver a quick win ( 21-10, 21-8). Baro joined Twitty in the No. 4 position and won 21-14, 21-19.

In the No. 3 spot, Doran and Baleto sealed the victory of New Mexico in two sets (21-9, 21-12).

House and Kelsey played in the No. 2 position and fought back their foes 21-7, 21-8. On court one, Sours and Rugland extended their winning streak (21-10, 21-12).

Sours and Rugland climbed to the top with an 8-3 record. The duo would encourage New Mexico with their leadership.

Despite having four losses in the season, the Lobos demonstrated their defensive capacity against nationally ranked teams.

However, shifts in the pairs were imperative to clinch deciding points for the team, especially in the fourth and fifth positions.

“It was a disappointing day overall,” Nelson said. “But we have more big matches tomorrow so we have to refocus and play hard again.”

UNM will take on Jacksonville State at 9 a.m., challenge No. 14 Stetson at noon and face off with Lincoln Memorial at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Bo Yu is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers beach volleyball, track and field, cross country and volleyball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Bo_YuB.