The UNM volleyball team debuted its 2009 roster Saturday during the annual Cherry-Silver and Alumni exhibition matches.
The Lobos swept the alumni team 25-17, 25-15 and 25-10; the cherry team topped silver 3-1 during the intersquad scrimmage.
“It was a good day of competition,” said head coach Jeff Nelson. “The key early was our serving and passing. As long as we’re passing, we can do great things with our offense.”
Senior outside hitter Rose Morris led the cherry team and finished with 14 kills, no errors and a .538 hitting percentage. After playing last season as a rightside hitter, Morris moves to the outside hitting position this season.
“I thought Rose, Kelly (Williamson) and Lisa (Meeter) all hit particularly well today,” Nelson said. “Our offense is more balanced. I feel like we have seven or eight people who can step in and really hit the ball.”
In the alumni match, sophomore middle Ashley Rhoades led the Lobos with 10 kills, followed by Morris, Meeter and Taylor Hadfield with eight kills each.
“People are coming in and stepping up for us, and that’s exactly what we need,” Rhoades said.
Jeanne Fairchild led the alumni team with 14 kills, and 2002 graduate Vanessa Shields added nine.
“It’s weird to be on the other side of the net,” Fairchild said. “We have an alumni banquet before the game, and even just being able to get my food first was kind of a surreal experience.”
Four Albuquerque-area freshmen also made their debuts during the exhibitions: Melissa Rohr from Cibola High School, Jordan Russell from Moriarty High School, Jackie Rodriguez from Rio Rancho High School and Carli Torr from La Cueva High School.
“We have some very talented freshmen,” Nelson said. “They bring a good energy to the team, and they’ve played club together, which is great.”
UNM hosts the Lobo Classic this weekend and opens the regular season Friday against Delaware at 7:30 p.m. in Johnson Gym.
“We’re all excited for this weekend,” Rohr said. “Our team has such a great chemistry, and I think it will be a great year.”
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Volleyball vs. Delaware
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Johnson Gym
