by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
The UNM volleyball team is riding a wave of momentum after defeating No. 23 BYU on Saturday.
"It's a huge confidence boost for us," head coach Jeff Nelson said. "It was the most consistent and steady we've played this season."
The win marked the first time UNM has beaten a ranked opponent since defeating BYU in November.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
It is also the first time the Lobos have beaten BYU in Provo, Utah, since 1995.
Nelson said the win will benefit his team for the rest of the season.
"It will help us knowing that we can get those tough matches, especially on the road," he said. "It's a big accomplishment for a team to be able to beat a ranked opponent on the road. We fought hard, and I really think it is a testament to our team's ability to fight."
Junior outside hitter Jeanne Fairchild said after Friday's close 3-0 loss to Utah, the Lobos were motivated to win.
"We went to Utah looking for two wins," she said. "After losing on Friday night, we went into Saturday's game with the mind-set that we had to work our butts off. We knew beating BYU was something that we could accomplish, and we knew that BYU was the tougher team."
UNM returns home to face Mountain West Conference foes San Diego State and UNLV on Friday and Saturday.
With three MWC teams making the 2006 NCAA Volleyball Tournament, Nelson said conference competition is tough.
"The conference is really balanced," he said. "You have to be ready to play every night. There's good players on every team, so we have to prepare our best and hopefully be healthy and be ready to go each and every night."
San Diego State holds a 27-11 advantage in the series with UNM. The Aztecs have won 14 of the last 16 meetings between the two schools.
Nelson said his team is gearing up for a battle Friday.
"San Diego State is a very good team," he said. "They have won some pretty big matches this season, as well. We're going to have to prepare well and be at our best if we want to win. It's going to be a good match for us."
UNLV is 11-6 against UNM. The Lobos have dropped six straight matches to the Rebels.
Nelson said the UNLV matchup will be a test for his young team.
"UNLV is an exceptional team," he said. "They've got good senior leadership - they're dominated by seniors. They're all strong players. We are going to have to play our best match to be able to
beat them."
The Lobos last home game against TCU on Sept. 28 had an attendance of 1,223 fans, compared to the 495 spectators at the Lobo's home opener on Aug. 24.
Nelson said the home crowd will help the Lobos.
"The home crowd has been a huge advantage for us," he said. "They've really helped us win some tight matches this season. The crowd has gotten bigger every week, and that's exciting for our players."
Volleyball vs. San Diego State
Friday, 7 p.m.
Johnson Gym
