For nearly 10 years the Lobos have geared up against former UNM volleyball athletes to start the season. For the first time since 2006, though, New Mexico fans will not get to see an exhibition match against the Lobo alumnae.
However, head coach Jeff Nelson said UNM fans will be in for a treat this evening during Fan Appreciation Night, with first serve scheduled for 6:30 p.m. He said the free-admission event will showcase some talented play in the intrasquad match, followed by post-game autographs from the 2015 roster.
“We’re not getting rid of the (alumnae game), we’re just moving it,” Nelson said. “We’ve had success with it before because we have great alumni.”
Nelson said he felt bad about putting so much pressure of getting the former UNM players together at the start of the season because there is too much going on this early in the year. Nelson said a better time to squeeze in the match would be in the spring, or possibly later in the fall.
Nelson has limited his possible starting rotations to three, which he said he is comfortable with. In the Cherry vs. Silver match Nelson said the fans are going to get a hint at some of UNM’s possible looks for the 2015 season.
Of the seven available starting spots, Nelson said right now 10 or 11 players have the ability to acquire a starting role, but he did not specify who the potential starters are.
One of the spots that may be up for grabs is the middle blocker role. Senior Simone Henderson played her first season last year in a Lobo uniform after transferring from Grossmont College in 2014.
Henderson started in 27 of the 31 games at middle blocker and found great success in the role. She said she doesn’t know what to expect of the intrasquad scrimmage in front of the Lobo faithful.
“We have a lot of team goals we are trying to accomplish with each game and each practice,” she said. “I’m just really excited. It’s a whole new feel.”
Henderson said she can already tell the difference between the 2015 squad and last year’s.
“We’re definitely very close this year,” Henderson said. “We can rely on each other. We trust each other... We’re not just reliant on one player.”
Nelson said he expects everyone to have the first-game nerves and jitters, even though it is yet another scrimmage between familiar faces.
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“It’s the start of what everyone hopes is a great season,” Nelson said. “They should always feel great playing at home, but if you’re not a little bit nervous, I’m not sure that you’re alive.”
Nelson has a veteran squad with six returning starting players. Although the Cherry vs. Silver Fan Appreciation Night is a new twist under the Nelson Era, Henderson said she expects great things from this year’s club and she is exited to showcase it tonight.
“I feel like we’re going to win a lot more games,” Henderson said. “I feel like we’re going to have a lot more fun.”
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at assistantsports@dailylobo.com or on twitter @Liam_CE.
