The third time failed to be charming for the volleyball team.
The Lobos fell in their third encounter against the Wyoming Cowgirls in four sets, 23-25, 25-27, 25-20 and 21-25, in the first round of the MWC tournament Friday night at Johnson Center. Senior middle blocker Ashley Rhoades sprained her ankle and left the match.
“It’s tough, and those things happen, especially in volleyball with all the stuff around the net,” head coach Jeff Nelson said about Rhoades’ injury. “It was unfortunate for us. I think if Ashley had stayed in the game, we might have had a different outcome.”
UNM lost its two previous matches against Wyoming during the regular season, and the Lobos came out sluggish, trailing 15-8 to the Cowgirls early on.
An offensive spark from Rhoades and senior outside hitter Kelly Williamson helped the Lobos fight back in the first set and tie at 22-22.
Rhoades sprained her ankle at the end of the point and didn’t return to the match. The Lobos lost the first two sets of the match by two points.
Freshmen middle blockers Chantale Riddle and Elsa Krieg, and sophomore outside hitter Ashley Newman, were asked to step up in absence of Rhoades. They answered the call.
All four sets in the match were decided by five points or fewer. Riddle finished the match with 11 kills and 14 digs. Newman added 13 kills.
In the second set, Krieg was part of three consecutive points for the Lobos when she blocked three Wyoming attacks, to give UNM a 17-16 lead.
Krieg is a underclassmen expected to continue the offensive production Rhoades and Williamson provided during their careers.
“I can’t fill those shoes right now, but I hope I can just as well (as Rhoades did,)” Krieg said. “To get this kind of experience is great, but I would have loved to have Ashley Rhoades out there by my side.”
The Achilles’ heel for UNM against Wyoming was serving errors. The Lobos finished the match with 12 service errors, and the mistakes seemed to happen when momentum was on their side.
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“They were untimely,” Williamson said. “That’s what killed us for sure in our first two sets.”
Williamson, Rhoades and senior libero Allison Buck all played the last home match of their careers.
Williamson led the team with 23 kills and a .288 percentage.
Allison Buck led the team with 22 digs. Rhoades finished with five kills after leaving with the injury.
The Lobos, 14-14 with one match remaining, are unlikely to get an NCAA tournament at-large bid.
Williamson said this is a season she’ll always remember.
“I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Williamson said. “Coming here, playing for our fans, it’s unforgettable and it’s awesome that we still have so many people out here to support us.”
