Volleyball loses first conference game

by Brandon Call

Daily Lobo

The UNM volleyball team opened its Mountain West Conference schedule with a loss.

The Lobos fell 30-27, 30-25, 30-19 to Colorado State on Saturday in Fort Collins, Colo.

UNM drops to 9-3 on the season, while the Rams improve to 7-3 and 2-0 in the MWC.

Head coach Jeff Nelson said his team showed flashes of excellence but couldn't put it together for

the win.

"We played good at times, but we also had a few errors," Nelson said in a phone interview Sunday. "We didn't play well in the third game, but we were right with them in games one and two. We just made a few errors when it came down to the end."

Junior libero Gayle Tripp said UNM was outplayed by the Rams.

"We just got outworked by them," she said. "We did what it took to compete with them but not to beat them. In the long rallies, we would fight and keep it close. But we never could get the win."

Tripp had 10 digs for the Lobos, while freshman setter Jade

Michaelsen added 27 assists.

Junior outside hitter Jeanne Fairchild, who leads the MWC in kills with 4.66 per game, notched a game-high 15 kills.

Freshman outside hitter Lisa Meeter recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs on the night.

Nelson said Fairchild and Meeter served as the backbone of the Lobo offense in the match.

"Jeanne played really well in the first couple of games," he said. "She has been our go-to player all season. With Lisa, she has been solid for us, too. As a freshman, I'm happy that she is contributing and making an impact for us already."

CSU, the defending MWC champion, is the top team in the MWC again this year, Nelson said.

"It's one of the toughest road trips for us," he said. "It's a great benchmark, knowing that we can compete with them. They won conference last year and return a lot of players, so I think in a lot of ways they are the best team right now in the MWC."

Tripp said the Lobos need to learn how to beat top teams

such as CSU.

"With the hard work we put in during the preseason, we know that we can compete with any team," she said. "Now, it's just gaining confidence and learning how to win against them."

The Lobos return home to face Air Force on Thursday and Wyoming on Friday.

Nelson said he wants to chalk up a win against the Falcons.

"We are looking to get back in the winning mode," he said. "After losing two straight, we need a win. We will have to play well and cut down on our errors, but it will be good to be playing at home again."

Tripp said the contests will be good for the Lobos.

"Against Air Force, we've been very successful against them in the past," she said. "Wyoming has always been a very close matchup. It's nice to open the conference at home against teams that we know we can be successful against."

BOX

Volleyball vs. Air Force

Thursday, 7 p.m.

Johnson Gym