The UNM volleyball team looks to defend its championship title at the Comcast Lobo Invitational this weekend at Johnson Arena.
After last weekend's disappointing outcome at Fresno State, the Lobos plummeted to the bottom of the Mountain West Conference rankings, with a record of 0-3. However, it is early in the season, and after the first tournament UNM hopes to have worked out early season jitters.
"The important thing is that our team has some feedback from an opponent, and your opponents are usually your best teachers," head coach Kelley Sliva McKee said. "Our opponents tell us that we need to get better at passing and at serving more consistently."
The Lobos were shut out at the Fresno State Invitational by the host Bulldogs, Cal Poly and Idaho State last Friday and Saturday.
Though the Lobos' record does not show it, senior Anna Reines made sure UNM will be considered a future threat. Reines earned all-tournament honors, averaging 4.2 kills per game. She put down 17 kills in the match against Idaho State.
"All weekend she was in the entire time," fellow senior Adah Burke said. "She served she passed, she dug. She did a really good job."
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This week the Lobos have been back in the gym refining their skills.
Walk-on libero Lisa Dick, nicknamed "Dicky" by teammates, agreed with Sliva McKee, saying passing was the team's weakest point this weekend. Dick said the players have been running intense passing drills this week to correct the problem.
"We've been doing a lot of drills on digging," she said. "The coaches mix it up. They shoot 'em out in the corner, they hit 'em straight down and we just try to get the balls up and make a play out of it."
UNM will face Youngstown State, Alcorn State and the University of Delaware this weekend. The Penguins of Youngstown State is the only team entering the tournament with a win under its belt.
"We're just going to continue to grow," Burke said. "Our record last week was kind of disappointing, but the difference between our first match and our last match was just phenomenal. I expect us to keep taking it up a level every single game."
The Comcast Lobo Invitational will get underway Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Johnson Arena when the Lobos will face Youngstown State. Saturday UNM will take on Alcorn State and Delaware at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively. Admission is free for UNM students with a valid ID.
