For the New Mexico volleyball team, winning against quality teams is a necessity to prevent missing the national tournament like the squad did a year ago.
Last season, UNM finished second in the Mountain West with a 24-7 record (14-6 MW), but failed to make the postseason due to the weakness in competition. This year, head coach Jeff Nelson is confident that the Ratings Percentage Index will be higher because of the strength in non-conference schedule.
“We’ve played two top 10 teams in the country (in terms of RPI),” Nelson said, referring to Texas and Oregon. “I think we have by far the toughest schedule.”
Nelson said the quality of play out of the conference this year will help in addition to the Lobos’ tough non-conference schedule. However, he said UNM’s desire to finish the non-conference matches strong is of utter importance.
UNM will take on Charleston (7-4), Houston Baptist (6-4), and SMU (8-1) for its final tournament of the season at the SMU Invite in Dallas.
“It’s important to come out (of the tournament) 3-0,” Nelson said. “It’s going to be a war.”
He said in order for the team to have a shot to qualify for postseason play, it will have to enter the top 60 teams with respect to RPI.
Even though UNM lost every match against ranked opponents, Nelson said New Mexico’s strength of schedule is nothing to overlook. He said going undefeated this weekend against teams that are predicted to win their respected conferences will help spike the team’s RPI.
Following a tough weekend in Hawaii, UNM bounced back went undefeated at home and looks to keep heading on a positive course.
“It was really good to get back on track,” Nelson said. “We had a good weekend and we’re headed in the right direction.”
Newcomers have been a bright spot in the Lobos’ play of late which allows Nelson to provide different looks in a variety of matches.
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“We actually have three or four freshmen that are getting a lot of playing time,” Nelson saud. “We’ve really been able to use our balance and get kids a lot of time.”
Junior transfer Simone Henderson has received a lot of playing time in her first year as a Lobo because of the quality of play out of the middle blocker position.
“Simone Henderson is playing great ball,” Nelson said. “Of the nine matches we’ve played, she has had maybe one bad match.”
Nelson said leading the conference in blocking (89) is a positive sign for the Lobos defensively. He said the Lobos do need to work on returning serves and passing in order to become a sound unit as a whole.
Liam Cary-Eaves is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
