The Lobo beach volleyball team split its two final road matches of the regular season in Tempe, Arizona on Friday.
New Mexico fell 4-1 to No. 19 Arizona State, but bounced back to beat No. 20 California 3-2 to end its winless streak against top-tier teams.
“I am really happy for our team finally getting that win over a ranked team this season,” head coach Jeff Nelson said in a release. “We have been in several tight matches and really pulled out a couple good wins the past two weeks.”
The Lobos (15-10) were riding a seven-match win streak, but were not able to extend it, losing to the Arizona State Sun Devils (13-14).
New Mexico scored first in the match against Arizona State in the No. 5 position as Julia Warren and Lauren Twitty extended their winning streak to nine straight games with the come-from-behind victory (20-22, 21-16, 15-12).
However, it ended up being the only point the Lobos would claim. On court four, Victoria Spragg and Chloe Crappell dropped 21-14, 21-12. In the No. 1 spot, Cassie House and Ashley Kelsey lost a close match (21-19, 17-21, 17-15).
The Sun Devils clinched the duel on court two as Devanne Sours and Lise Rugland fell (21-16, 21-18). The Lobo No. 3 pair Marisa Doran and Eastyn Baleto also lost in two sets (21-17, 21-16).
New Mexico quickly bounced back, rebounding to beat the California Bears (13-8) later that same day.
“It’s good to have them rally after a disappointing loss to get a great win,” Nelson said. “It was a team effort today in both matches with key players struggling with health issues.”
A key Lobo player, Sours, twisted her ankle in her previous match. But she continued to turn in a gritty performance and help contribute to the deciding point in the match with California.
Doran and Baleto scored first for UNM in two straight sets (21-16, 21-18) at the No. 4 slot.
The Bears put an end to the win streak of Warren and Twitty, beating the pair in three hard-fought sets on court five (21-19, 10-21, 15-13).
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The Lobos’ top tandem of House and Kelsey gave New Mexico the lead again with a close win (23-21, 21-19).
California tied the score 2-2 after defeating Crappell and Carly Beddingfield (21-15, 22-20) on court three, meaning the outcome rested on the final match.
Sours and Rugland seized the opportunity and closed strong for the Lobos, avoiding a third set by winning (21-15, 21-16).
The Lobos will return to Albuquerque on Saturday on a day when the team will recognize contributions from its senior members. New Mexico is slated to play a double-header against Air Force at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to end the regular season.
Bo Yu is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers beach volleyball, track and field, cross country and volleyball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Bo_YuB.
