Head coach Jeff Nelson said Johnson will not be jumping against No. 6 Colorado State (18-1 6-0 MW) due to an high ankle sprain. The setter will still see playing time, but not in the customary front row.
“That is the one irreplaceable loss for us,” Nelson said. “I’m hoping that Hannah can at least play in the back row and that will help us with our leadership. She’s the captain of our team on the floor.”
Johnson is among the top team’s five among four major categories. Her 582 assists and .947 serving percentage are all team-highs. She has accumulated 27 blocks, fifth best on the team, and 157 digs, the third most on the squad.
“Those things happen in sports,” Nelson said. “We’re not down about it, we just want to play good ball and get everyone healthy.”
Backup setter sophomore Lise Rugland has had injury issues of her own. Nelson said the team didn’t have enough time to practice after Johnson went down in the fourth set against San Diego State (7-8, 3-2 MW) which played a major role in the team’s ability to adapt to the injury.
“Unfortunately, our backup in that position (Rugland) has been out most of the year with injury,” Nelson said. “So there wasn’t much of a smooth transition.”
Nelson said Rugland is going to have to go out and play, rather than trying to impress him and anyone else, while replacing Johnson.
“Keeping things simple, distributing the ball well,” Nelson said. “I think she can do it, but I think it’s really important that she just goes out and plays and doesn’t worry about all of the other things that are going on.”
Following Saturday’s three-set loss to UNLV (15-5, 3-2 MW), the Lobos have had some time to put Rugland in the rotations. He is confident in his team’s ability to bounce back from the injury and the two losses in a big match.
“I know that our kids will step up and play great ball,” Nelson said. “I just want them to get together and play well because they’re a really good team.”
Nelson said games against Colorado State always bring about interesting matches. He said CSU has been UNM’s biggest rival since the departure of BYU and Utah State from the conference.
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The Rams have had the Lobos’ number, beating UNM 47 of the 70 meetings between the two. The Rams will enter Johnson Gym on Thursday night riding a three-game win streak.
“It needs to be a good rivalry because there aren’t a lot of good rivalries in the conference,” Nelson said. “This one is really good. We get big crowds in both places and the teams just seem to pick it up and play harder.”
Despite the setback, Nelson said UNM will live up to the rivalry standards and will be contenders in the heightened atmosphere.
“We’re not going to roll over and die for them,” Nelson said. “This is going to be a battle and we’re going to make it a battle.”
Liam Cary-Eaves is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
