Saturday was a night to remember for the UNM volleyball team.
Not only did the Lobos bid a fond farewell to seniors Anna Lehne, Rose Morris and Allie Suiter, who were playing in their final home matches, but the team also avenged an earlier 3-0 loss to BYU, this time coming out on top 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 at Johnson Gym.
With the win, UNM moved into fourth place in Mountain West Conference race at 18-8 overall and 9-5 in conference. BYU slipped to 12-12 and 6-6.
“It was a great win for us,” said head coach Jeff Nelson. “I was happy to see us come out with a lot of intensity and never let up. Both tonight’s win and Thursday’s win against Utah are big wins for getting into postseason. They’re critical for our future, and it opens the doors for us.”
The night became even more memorable after the match as Morris went to celebrate the hard-fought win with teammates. Morris’ boyfriend, Matt Doxtator, dropped to one knee and proposed to her on the court. The couple drew a loud ovation as Morris jumped up and down in acceptance.
“This is the best night of my life, not just my volleyball career,” said the blushing bride-to-be. “I’m getting married — oh my gosh! There’s no way I was expecting this. I’m so happy to be sharing this moment with my family and my teammates.”
Morris said the outcome added to the experience. UNM had not swept a two-match set against Utah and BYU during the seniors’ careers — until this week.
“We just came out and focused on playing good volleyball,” Lehne said. “Of course we had a little chip on our shoulders, and it was so great to show them that last time was a fluke.”
A kill by Lehne, a BYU hitting error and a service ace by junior Lisa Meeter, got the Lobos off to a 3-0 start in Game 1 as UNM maintained a lead the entire set. The Cougars kept it close, pulling within one at 24-23. But Meeter responded by blasting a kill off a defender’s shoulder to clinch Game 1.
“We didn’t have big leads, but having the lead put all the pressure on BYU,” Nelson said. “We never let them put together any big runs, and we always stayed on top.”
In Game 2, the Lobos jumped out to a 15-6 lead behind the strong serving of junior outside hitter Taylor Hadfield. UNM was unstoppable in Game 2, as a kill by sophomore middle blocker Ashley Rhoades finished the Cougars off, 25-17.
“Passing and serving were key for us,” Nelson said. “We did a great job of setting the tempo and controlling the match.”
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Game 3 was tight, featuring six ties and a late flurry of kills by BYU’s Christie Carpenter, who finished with a match-high 14. Her final blast cut the Lobo lead to 24-23, but Lehne had the last laugh, slamming home a quick set from junior setter Jade Michaelsen for the final point.
Meeter finished with a double-double on 13 kills and 11 digs. Morris and Lehne each chipped in seven kills, while Michaelsen dished out 37 assists.
In addition, a season-high 2,613 fans cheered the Lobos on. The 2009 campaign is the first time in UNM volleyball history that every home game of the season drew a crowd of more than 1,000 fans.
“The fans were key during those pivotal points,” Suiter said. “We feed off the energy. When we scored, it was so loud. It was just amazing to have that many people there.”
The Lobos finished up the regular season with three road matches in the next three weeks, starting with UNLV on Thursday. UNM closes out conference play against TCU on Nov. 20, before ending regular season against New Orleans on Nov. 27.
“We’re looking forward to only having one game a week and having time to really prepare for each team,” Nelson said. “We do a real good job of preparation and knowing our opponents. Our team likes playing on the road. We just go in and play.”
*Volleyball vs. UNLV
Thursday, 8 p.m.
Las Vegas, Nev.
*
Thursday, 8 p.m.
Las Vegas, Nev.
