It’s Rivalry Week across NCAA Volleyball, and the Battle of I-25 was on full display as New Mexico’s two division one universities competed till the end. The University of New Mexico Lobos ultimately were bested by their Rio Grande rival, the New Mexico State Aggies, on Wednesday, Sept. 17. This NMSU victory marks a snap in a three-game win streak in the rivalry for the Lobos Head Coach Jon Newman-Gonchar’s volleyball team.
Both squads fought till the end, as the match went five sets. The first set was won by the Aggies 25-18, the second and third going to the Lobos, 25-23 and 25-18 respectively, before things swung back in favor of the Aggies, who took the fourth set 25-23 and fifth 15-7.
The Lobos ultimately were snuffed out, as NMSU went into the final set carrying over momentum from the previous set that the Lobos were unable to overcome.
The Lobos were led in kills by outside hitter Gioia Riccato, who contributed 13 of the team’s 53 kills. Lobo setter Addison France ran the show in digs with 17, and outside hitter Amanda Tremeroli took charge in blocks with five.
UNM’s lone ace was scored by Lobo middle blocker Zoe Leonard, while NMSU’s outside hitter Maggie Lightheart and setter Nellie Reese contributed four apiece for the Aggies. This only made it fitting that the Lobos lost the final set on back-to-back aces served by Lightheart to push the Aggies over the threshold in achieving victory against the Lobos.
The key to the Aggies’ win was UNM’s lack of response to the barrage of aces and blocks from NMSU. The Aggies led the match with 12 blocks compared to the Lobos’ seven. The Aggies 13 aces gave them momentum, causing UNM to miss opportunities in critical moments.
The Lobos will take the rest of the week off and open up Mountain West Conference play against Utah State University on Thursday, Sept. 25 at Johnson Gym.
Wyatt S. Padilla is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @wyattspadilla
