UNM (14-9, 6-4 MW) outhit San Jose State (3-19, 0-9 MW) in every single match. However, the Lobos couldn’t find a way to grab a lead for the entire first set, dropping the match 25-23. The Lobos rebounded and went on to win the game 3-1.
“In the first game we didn’t really come out strong,” sophomore outside hitter Cassie House said. “We all got our priorities together and made sure everyone was focused on the game plan and just pulled it together.”
Nelson said that after the first set the Lobos came out with more flare, which he said was partly due to the emotions coming from the other side of the net.
“They were kind of bantering through the net and got some of our kids fired up, and they started playing better ball,” Nelson said. “I want to thank their team for firing us up.”
Nelson has been adamant about wanting his outside hitters to play consistently. House and sophomore Devanne Sours answered Nelson’s call, with House totaling 13 kills, and Sours 11.
“All three pin hitters were hitting really well,” Nelson said. “Devanne and Cassie had some really good swings today.”
The final three sets were dominated by UNM. In set two, the Lobo ‘block party’ made an appearance for a 25-15 rout.
“Once we started blocking, and they were aware of the block, they started hitting the ball out,” Nelson said. “We had seven blocks in game two, and I think that kind of got in their face and changed the way the game was going.”
Although UNM’s blocking numbers were not as high in the third and fourth sets because the Spartans were avoiding New Mexico’s hands at the net, the Lobos still had a solid defensive performance, holding SJSU to a .013 hitting percentage for the game.
In the fourth set, the Spartans only obtained five kills and recorded 11 errors, a -.130 hitting percentage in the 25-14 deciding set.
New Mexico had lost four straight conference matches going into Thursday’s contest against Nevada (5-14, 2-7). UNM now has put together two straight conference wins. House said she is glad that her team has been able to get back on track.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
“I don’t know a single athlete that likes to lose,” House said. “So every win feels great.”
Senior right side hitter Chantale Riddle recorded 14 kills, a game high. The effort moved Riddle into second place on the Lobos’ all-time kill board, past Maria Gurreri.
Riddle trails Tania Gooley, who played in the early 1990s and has 1,579 kills to her name. As Riddle enters the week with 1,478 total kills, the southpaw needs just 101 kills to match Gooley.
With eight games left, Riddle must average 12.63 kills each game to tie the UNM record. In the 23 games that UNM has played so far, Riddle has totaled 296 kills, a 12.87 per-game average.
Liam Cary-Eaves is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
