Rejuvenated after returning from an excursion to South America, the UNM volleyball team has its eyes on having a successful upcoming season.
The Lobos traveled to Argentina on May 27 for a 10-day sightseeing and training trip.
But the exotic vacation almost didn't happen.
UNM was scheduled to leave for a 12-day trip to Beijing and Shanghai, but the travel agency, TranSports Athletic Team Tours, declared bankruptcy May 21.
Head Coach Jeff Nelson said putting the trip together at the last minute wasn't an easy task.
"We basically had a week to plan another trip," he said. "I really wanted the team to be able to travel and train together. I think it helps a lot with teambuilding."
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While in Argentina, the Lobos saw some historic sites - La Recoleta, an affluent neighborhood in Buenos Aires; Cementerio de la Recoleta, where prominent Argentinean figures are buried, including Eva Perón, former first lady and subject of the 1996 film "Evita;" and La Casa Rosada, "the Pink House," Argentina's equivalent of the U.S.'s White House.
"We did a lot of sightseeing, which was really cool," senior Gayle Tripp said. "It was fun because we would go eat and shop and have a lot of free time in the cities that we were visiting."
But the Lobos did more than simply sightsee.
UNM played eight matches during the 10-day trip, going 6-2 against teams like the Argentinean National Junior Team and the Chilean National JuniorĖTeam.
Nelson said the team jelled during the trip.
"We played some competitive volleyball," he said. "It's encouraging to see where we are this early in the game."
While the Lobos' trip was a learning experience, it wasn't devoid of obstacles.
"Our major challenge was playing in different locations," Tripp said. "We would play in old, run-down gyms. Also, we would play late at night when it was cold after being on a bus. That's hard to do."
Luckily, UNM gets a few weeks off before starting team practices at the end of July.
But that doesn't mean the Lobos aren't still practicing individually, Tripp said.
"We're supposed to play in two outdoor tournaments on our own, and we have a packet of conditioning we're supposed to do," she said. "We also help out with volleyball camps in July."
Tripp said the Lobos have their minds set on the future.
"The whole time we were in Argentina, we kept thinking about next season," she said. "We don't want to lose on our home court. You practice on that court every day, and that is our goal: to take pride in our gym."
UNM may be able to defend home court pretty well this year - it finished last season with a 16-13 record, including seven Mountain West Conference wins. In addition, the team returns all 11 players, including All-MWC honoree Jeanne Fairchild and Freshman of the Year Lisa Meeter.
Tripp said UNM plans to use last year's success as stepping stones for this year.
"Our main goal is just to beat the teams we are supposed to beat," she said. "It's not really about one match or one night, but everything is about November. It's all about where we are in November."
