The UNM volleyball team won its first road game of the season and ended a seven-game losing streak Saturday, defeating the Air Force Academy 3-2 in a hard-fought five game match.
The Lobos (4-18, 2-10 in the Mountain West Conference) have won only two conference games this season, but they are both against the Falcons (2-18, 0-12).
After losing the first set 27-30, the Lobos bounced back by winning the next two sets in tight battles. UNM won the second game 32-30 and the third game 30-28. However, the Falcons would not go away quietly, scrambling to win the fourth game 30-27 to force a deciding fifth game. UNM came up big in the last game, winning 15-8 to get the much-needed victory.
The Lobos played one of their best games of the season with the team posting season-highs in three offensive categories.
UNM scored 84 kills out of 197 attempts and had 69 assists, which were all season-highs. Leading the way for the Lobos was junior setter Kelly Griffin, who had an outstanding game by contributing her second career triple-double with 10 kills, 63 assists and 18 digs. The 63 assists and 18 digs are career-highs for Griffin.
Griffin got help from her teammates on both offense and defense. Offensively, all six of the Lobo starters scored double figure kills. Senior Malena Thompson led the way with 16, freshman Cayse Kaveny chipped in with a career-high 15 kills and three Lobos finished with 10 apiece - Griffin, junior Vanessa Shields and sophomore Lynzie Hayes.
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UNM played well on defense, earning 77 digs with the help of four Lobos amassing double figure digs. Griffin had 18, Shields controlled 10, junior Blaire Burns corralled 12 and freshman Alex Tixier chipped in with 12.
The Lobos continue their road trip next weekend, visiting University of Wyoming Nov. 9 and Colorado State University Nov. 10.
Staff Report
