by Jaclyn Gutierrez
Daily Lobo
The San Diego State Aztecs shut down the Lobos in three games in UNM's last home match of the season Saturday at Johnson Arena.
UNM (4-22) drops to 1-11 in the Mountain West Conference, while SDSU (17-11 improves to 7-5 in the conference.
The match opened up honoring Anna Reines, UNM's only senior.
Reines' hard work has placed her in sixth place for kills and fifth in total attempted kills in the UNM record book. She leads the Lobos in kills this season with 319, and picked up her 1000th career kill Thursday against UNLV.
The Lobos got off to a good start in game one of Saturday's match with the first kill and kept pace with the Aztecs. Reines had six kills in the opening game, but it was not enough to hold off the Aztecs. SDSU knocked off the Lobos in the first game 30-26.
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Reines said she went into the game prepared.
"I just wanted to do the best job I could in my final match," she said.
Game two opened up with a couple of rallies, which both ended in the Aztecs' favor. The match went point for point, but the Lobos hit only .083 percent. Reines collected a kill late in the game to keep the Lobos alive as the Aztecs led 29-22.
The Lobos could not hold on for long, though, as the Aztecs rolled to a 30-22 victory.
SDSU entered game three with a kill as the Lobos slowly began to trail. The Aztecs led by as many as 10 points in the game. Two kills in a row by Reines brought the Lobos back within seven, but a double block by SDSU gave the win to the Aztecs 30-23.
Overall, Reines led the Lobos with 13 kills, while sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Sondrup chipped in nine kills and six digs. Freshmen Jennifer Heasty and Georgia Whitson each added six kills apiece. Setter Monica Meihack totaled 34 assists, Adah Burke collected 10 digs and freshman Lindsay Smith added six.
Leading the Aztecs was Megan Schauermann with 13 kills and SDSU setter, Sara Engstrom tallied 32 assists.
UNM head coach Kelley Sliva McKee said Saturday's game differed from Thursday's win over UNLV because the Lobos made more mistakes against a better team.
Sliva McKee said that despite the loss, Reines played a good match.
"I think she came out aggressive at the net, and she did a great job serving," Sliva McKee said. "Her last home stand was Thursday night and tonight she did a great job."
Reines has only two MWC matches left in her career as a Lobo.
"I just want to do the best I can - win a couple games and maybe win a match hopefully."
UNM ends its regular season next weekend at Wyoming on Friday and Colorado State on Saturday. Both matches are set for 7 p.m.
