New Mexico kept pace for two sets against the number six team in the nation despite falling 3-0 to USC on Friday night.
The Trojans have swept the last nine teams they have faced, only dropping one set to North Carolina in the first match of the season.
UNM (4-4) had no answer for Samantha Bricio, who collected 21 kills on 39 attempts. She finished off her night with a respectable .471 hitting percentage.
“I was happy with the way we came out and battled in both sets one and three,” New Mexico head coach Jeff Nelson said in a release. “Our passing was solid but we didn’t take care of the ball at the net. We were not aggressive enough. Way too many tips and shots.”
Outside hitter Devanne Sours was the leading hitter for the Lobos with 12 kills on 41 attempts. However, her five errors left her with just a .171 hitting average on the night.
The Lobos trailed the majority of the first set, but a late run gave UNM a 20-18 advantage as the first set was coming to a close. USC battled back to tie things up at 20 apiece for Sours game through for UNM to take a 21-20 lead.
That would be the last time the Lobos would lead in the first set as USC would finish of the first game with a 25-23 victory.
After the tight first set, USC wanted no part of a close second. The Trojans jumped out to a 10-2 lead and never looked back from there, finishing the set off with a 25-10 rout.
In the third set, the Lobos jumped out to a 4-0 lead, the largest of any set to that point. UNM continued to contend with No. 6 USC (10-0) with a 10-6 advantage in the final set of the game.
The Trojans woke up going on an 8-1 run to take the lead 11-14. USC never gave up the lead after that, finishing the game and the match with a final of 25-20.
“Hopefully this match will prepare us for more big matches in conference,” Nelson said in the release. “USC is a really great team.”
The Lobos will look to garner the team’s first win at the USC Classic on Saturday at 12 p.m. in the squad’s final match against Idaho State (6-4).
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Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at assistantsports@dailylobo.com or on twitter @Liam_CE.
