The Lobos won their first match of the Lobo Invitational, sweeping the Manhattan Jaspers in three sets. The Lobos faced Northern Arizona University next in the invitational, where it came down to the wire. The final match against Houston Christian University, ending with another three-set sweep from the Lobos. The invitational took place at Johnson Gym, Aug. 29-30.
In the first set versus NAU, the Lobos went back and forth competitively, with a tough start to the first set which tied 16-16. NAU then began to pull away, ultimately concluding the first set 25-17.
The Lobos came fighting back in the second set making adjustments and quickly putting down the first kill of the set by Outside Hitter Gioia Riccato. The set heated up with the Lobos pouring pressure on, winning 25-19.
The third set began to shift the momentum in the Lobos favor with Riccato delivering the first kill. With the Lobos on fire, Outside Hitter Naomi Chankoumi got a kill, ending NAU’s chance for a possible comeback in the third set, which concluded with the Lobos dominating, 25-16.
With the Lobos’ confidence high, the fourth set began with Lobos Setter Madeleine Miller serving an ace. Both teams fought point after point to secure the win, but NAU fought back to keep themselves in the match, causing the set to enter into a win by two-rule situation that NAU would take 26-28, tying the sets 2-2.
In the fifth and final set, the first to 15 would win the game. The Lobos started out 5-0 coming into the fifth set with a fighting head start driving the score up to 15 and winning the match. After a hard fought victory, Lobo Head Coach Jon Newman-Gonchar said the Lobos “overcame adversity well.”
Chankoumi contributed six kills against Manhattan, 12 kills against NAU and 13 kills against HCU, for a solid performance across the three matches.
“I always thought of us as the underdog,” Chankoumi said. “Having that chip on our shoulder every moment, every step of the way, bouncing back that’s what we do, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
For the Lobos it took every kill, block and dig but the team proved that they could win when it mattered the most. The Lobos would finish off the Invitational with another win this time against Houston Christian. The Lobos next match will be, Sept. 4, against Tarleton State in Stephenville Texas.
Austin Bishop is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @austinrbishop23
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