After a bitter ending to the Days Inn and Suites Lobo Invitational, New Mexico heads into conference play with a chip on its shoulder.
In front of 3,267 fans — the 13th largest crowd in program history — the New Mexico volleyball team recorded a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to LSU at WisePies Arena on Saturday. However, middle blocker Skye Gullatt said her squad is ready to put the nonconference schedule on the back burner and take the Mountain West by storm.
The Lobos were picked to finish fifth in the conference according to the preseason polls, which Gullatt said is fueling her team. With the opening serve against SDSU (3-9) scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight, New Mexico will have a chance to start Mountain West play off right.
“I think we should be upset they picked us to finish fifth,” Gullatt said. “We’re going in angry that they underestimated us and prove everyone wrong.”
With UNM’s 7-5 overall record, they currently reside in fifth place in the conference. However, without a set of conference play having started, the team’s current placement has little value with respect to Mountain West standings.
Head coach Jeff Nelson said the Lobos can’t think of the possible NCAA tournament bids they will get if the squad doesn’t take the conference crown. Although UNM beat a few high-profile teams in the first four tournaments of the 2015 campaign, the Mountain West rarely produces more than one team in the NCAA Tournament.
“Our job now has to be to win the conference,” Nelson said. “... We’ve got to focus on the (Mountain West). I think the conference is really wide open.”
Nelson said his group has not been starting games quickly enough, which has dragged UNM down in three matches this season. He said by starting slow, the Lobos start off at a disadvantage and are forced to fight back into matches.
This past weekend, Nelson sent a wake-up call to his team by benching two starters after the team dropped the first two sets against LSU (4-7).
Nelson had no problem juggling his roster after a slow performance in the title game of the Lobo Invitational. Middle blocker Simone Henderson and libero/defensive specialist Mercedes Pacheco watched the final three sets from the bench, and the head coach handed the turquoise libero jersey over to defensive specialist Stephanie Chavez, stripping starting outside hitter Ashley Kelsey of her duties at that spot.
Middle blocker Mariessa Carrasco subbed in at middle blocker for the bench-ridden Henderson and flaunted her defensive prowess. Though she has only played in 17 sets before, Carrasco is averaging 1.24 blocks per set this season, which tops the roster.
Gullatt, the team-leader with 41 blocks, said the squad has to be ready for whatever rotation Nelson decides to put on the court.
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“Volleyball is a mental game,” Gullatt said. “You can have the best volleyball players in the world, but if you’re not mentally there, you’ll make a lot of errors like we’ve been doing.”
Having a deep bench has allowed the Lobos to shuffle the roster throughout the team’s inconsistent play. However, Nelson said after the LSU game that he is searching for consistent play, which he just hasn’t seen yet this season.
The Lobos have now showcased three different liberos in the last four games, which Nelson said shouldn’t be happening this far into the season.
However, despite the rocky play from the back court, Hannah Johnson is making her presence felt in her final year wearing Cherry and Silver. UNM’s setter has made the all-tournament team in each of the four tournaments UNM has played in.
The all-conference preseason pick is averaging 9.59 assists and 1.49 points per set in the first 12 games of the season. Johnson also fished 26 balls off the hardwood in Saturday’s five-set loss to LSU, the most of her collegiate career.
New Mexico must find consistency outside of the setter position if UNM has a chance to fulfill its hopes of claiming a seat atop the Mountain West.
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at assistantsports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
