Sports Briefs

Volleyball

Coaches in the Mountain West Conference picked the New Mexico volleyball team to finish fifth, according to the conference’s preseason poll released Tuesday.

The Lobos received 66 points in the poll, putting them behind San Diego State, Colorado State, UNLV and Utah State. The Aztecs received nine first-place votes, while the Rams had two. Behind New Mexico in the predictions are Fresno State, Boise State, Wyoming, San Jose State, Air Force and Nevada. 

Lobo junior hitter Chantale Riddle and senior libero Miquella Lovato earned spots on the All-MWC preseason team along with Colorado State junior Deedra Foss, Fresno State senior Korrin Wild, UNLV senior Madeline Westman and San Diego State seniors Raegan Shelton and Johnna Fouch.

Football

Local television station KASY, My50TV, will broadcast UNM’s Aug. 31 football season opener against Texas-San Antonio, according to a Monday release from the Athletic Department.

Jay Howard will serve as the play-by-play announcer for the broadcast and David Williams will provide color commentary.
The game will be the first meeting between the Lobos and UTSA.

New Mexico Bowl

Also, pending approval by the NCAA licensing committee, Conference USA has agreed that one of its member teams will play in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl beginning in 2014 as part of a six-year deal, the bowl committee announced Tuesday.

The move marks a change for the New Mexico Bowl, which will feature teams from the Mountain West Conference and Pac-12 during a Dec. 21 game at University Stadium. Negotiations for the other conference participant are pending.

“We are looking forward to this new deal with Conference USA,” New Mexico Bowl Executive Director Jeff Siembieda said in a statement. “The schools, markets and fan bases will bring a lot of excitement to our event.”