by Tony Niklinski
Daily Lobo
Lobo fans packed the gym at Johnson Center Friday on "Jam Johnson" night as 1,339 supporters came to see the volleyball team play the Utah Utes.
Despite the fans' support, the UNM volleyball team could not snap its 10 game losing streak, dropping three straight games to the visiting Utes 30-19, 30-21, 30-12.
With the loss, the Lobos are now 3-13 for the season with a 0-3 record in Mountain West play.
Utah established an early 13-7 lead in the first game. On the verge of total domination, Lobo's head coach Kelly Sliva McKeae decided to call a time out. "We need to settle down," Sliva McKee said. "We're always playing catch up."
After the time out, UNM challenged the Utes for the rest of game one.
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However, the Lobo team members dug themselves into a deep hole that they were unable to climb out of.
A fraction of that was due to Utah senior All-American Kim Turner. Turner was the reigning Co-MWC Player of the Year her junior season. This year the league's head coaches selected her as the 2003 preseason MWC player of the year. Turner finished the night with 12 kills and three blocks.
On paper, the second game of match play was the closest. Freshman Georgia Whitson, of Taos, stepped up her level of play in the second game.
After trailing 5-2, Whitson scored four points, including three in a row helping to tie the game at six. Whitson put down a career high 12 kills for the night.
"This was the biggest crowd yet," Whitson said. "It helps out a lot."
Sliva McKee said senior standout Anna Reines also played a strong all-around game.
"Anna played great. She hit and passed well," Sliva McKee said. "Anna's jump serves added huge elements to our team. She makes her teammates better."
Reines scored six points on five kills for the night.
The Utes saved the best for last during the third game of play.
Utah jumped out over UNM, possessing a commanding 21-8 lead in the game. Sliva McKee was once again forced to call a timeout. But it was too late for the Lobos. The Utes hit an incredible .667 percent for the game with 16 kills on 24 assists and no errors.
"We never gave New Mexico the opportunity to get into the match," Utah head coach Beth Launiere said. "We got better as the match went on. We played very good volleyball all around."
For the match, Utah hit a season high .512 against the Lobos and committed eight errors. The Utes held the Lobos to a .088 percent of kills and now lead the Lobos 31-26 for the all-time series.
UNM will be seeking its first win in 10 games this weekend, when it travels to San Diego State on Friday and UNLV the following day. Both games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
