The UNM volleyball team got some much needed life pumped back into it this weekend, ending a 10 game losing streak with the help of senior hitter Malena Thompson.
Thompson had a match high 13 kills to help the Lobos earn a 3-1 victory against the Air Force Academy Friday at Johnson Arena. The victory is the first for the Lobos (3-10, 1-4 in the Mountain West Conference) in more than a month, the last coming against McNeese State University on Sept. 1.
After losing the first set 30-24, UNM dominated the rest of the match, winning 30-12, 30-21 and 30-24
The night started off shaky for the Lobos as they played sloppy in the first set loss because of 10 hitting errors.
Thompson said losing the first game to the Falcons (1-11, 0-5) sent a shock to her and the entire team.
“It affected me; I was very surprised,” Thompson said. “Then we came back and turned it around.”
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The Lobos recovered in the second game, starting off with a seven point run behind Thompson’s serve. The team had zero hitting errors in the 30-12 win and Thompson iced the game with back-to-back kills.
Head coach Tom Peterson said Thompson has the potential to turn games around.
“Malena is the crowd pleaser,” he said. “When she hits and connects, the crowd goes crazy and we go crazy; that’s contagious. When she makes a good play, it makes the rest of us get going.”
Thompson had simple instructions from Peterson that proved to be successful.
“Tom told me just swing at the ball, no matter where it is, just swing,” Thompson said. “Kelly (Griffin) was setting me really well, especially towards the end of the game. She was setting low and that works really good.”
The Lobos rode Thompson’s swing to a 30-21 win in the third game, giving UNM momentum heading into the fourth set.
Peterson said the reason that the low set works so well is because of Thompson’s hitting style. He describes it as swing hitting, going from one area of the net to hitting the ball at another.
“She has to fly into the ball and broad jump to do that,” he said. “She does that as well as anybody.”
The net wasn’t the only thing that Thompson was dominating as she also racked up a match high 10 digs. Her best dig came in the fourth game with UNM three points away from winning the match. Thompson sealed the 30-24 win with a big hit on game point, which was blocked out of bounds by the Falcons.
The Lobos finished the game with an impressive 43 kills and only 18 errors.
UNM screamed and celebrated in the locker room after the game.
“I am happy; it was really good for us because we have been losing for so long,” Thompson said. “We played as a team, we communicated, and we came together after every play. It might be a starting point for more wins to come.”
The Lobos next home match is next weekend when they face Colorado State University Oct. 12 and the University of Wyoming Oct. 13.
