The Lobo volleyball team went winless for exactly two months.
But Thursday night at Johnson Arena UNM ended its 15-game losing streak, beating the UNLV Rebels three games to one 30-25, 26-30, 23-30, 28-30.
"I am so happy for our team right now," UNM head coach Kelley Sliva McKee said. "Despite the fact that we haven't been winning, they've been coming to practice every day and they've worked hard. Tonight was a perfect night to exhibit their hard work."
The night started just like every other match the Lobos have played this season.
UNM was getting burned on defense and although it was keeping pace with the Rebels, it couldn't hold on to the lead.
The Lobos came out in the second game looking nearly synchronized, quickly matching each point scored by UNLV. But when senior Anna Reines and freshman Jennifer Heasty knocked down an attack by Rebels' 6-foot-5 middle blocker, Sheila Ocasio-Clemente, the Lobos gained a new sense of confidence.
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Ocasio-Clemente towered over the court and led the Rebels with 15 kills and three block assists.
Even though the 6-foot-4 Reines rarely faces opponents taller than her, she was not intimidated. In fact Reines made the Puerto Rico native look miniscule with 26 kills of her own.
"She's alright," Reines said with a shrug. "It's more exciting to get a block when it goes straight down like hers do - and it pumps up the whole team."
Throughout the match the Lobos and the Rebels battled for each point, but in the third game of the match, luck turned in UNM's favor.
The Rebels lost control of the game and appeared shaken-up as their attacks sailed out of bounds and they passed a series of free-balls over the net to the Lobos.
The third game ended with a UNLV net violation.
UNLV jumped out to an early three-point lead in game four, but UNM freshman Kelly Therkelsen pounded out two kills in a row to tie the game at three.
As her career as a Lobo comes to an end, Reines is making sure she will go out in style. With her .409 attack percentage, Reines collected a total of 30 points for UNM.
Freshman Georgia Whitson was second for UNM in kills with 12, while sophomore Chelsea Sondrup added 10. Therkelsen and junior setter Monica Meihack each contributed six kills for the Lobos.
Meihack led UNM with 52 set assists. Sliva McKee said it was probably the best game of Meihack's career at UNM.
The Lobos' last home volleyball game will be tomorrow night at Johnson Arena. The first ball will be served at 7 p.m. Admission is free for students.
