The UNM Volleyball team found the switch from Johnson Center to University Arena to be the pits this weekend, losing Mountain West Conference matches to the University of Wyoming 3-1 Friday and Colorado State University 3-1 Saturday.
Wyoming 3, UNM 1
The Lobos, who went without starting outside hitter Anna Reines, played the Cowgirls close, but weren't able to counter Wyoming's big hitters, junior Michele Rauter and sophomore Sara Maytorena. The duo each hit a game-high 21 kills as the Cowgirls won in four games, 30-28, 31-29, 27-30 and 30-27. Rauter also had a game-high 23 digs.
UNM missed the energy and hitting of Reines, who sat out due to a bout with the flu that also limited her practice time last week. Senior Staci Masten had a career-best 18 kills as well as a team-high 18 digs and two block solos in the loss.
The Lobos also got contributions from senior Vanessa Shields, who had 14 kills and 12 digs, and sophomore Cayse Kaveny, who added 10 kills, one block solo and four block assists.
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In its first two games, UNM started slowly, then rallied to tie the game or take the lead only to falter in the final points. Wyoming (16-4, 2-3 MWC) took advantage of the Lobos defense early and often by dinking balls just over the front or dropping short shots at the net.
UNM had game one tied at 28 before losing and forced game point in game two, only to lose the next three points and the game. In game three, the Lobos played the Cowgirls close through and closed the game with a 5-1 flourish. UNM played game four close, but trailed throughout and never got a rhythm going.
CSU 3, UNM 1
Against the league-leading Rams, the Lobos missed Reines and junior Lynzie Hayes, who left the Wyoming game with a sore knee. The result was a CSU win in four games, 26-30, 30-21, 30-26 and 30-22.
Vanessa Shields was the only UNM player in double figures, hitting 11 kills. The junior also had nine digs and three service aces. Staci Masten added nine kills and one service ace.
The Rams, who had four players in double figures for kills, got a huge game out of freshman outside hitter Tess Rogers. Rogers had 20 kills and four digs.
The Lobos had the advantage early on, running to a 15-8 lead in the first game before CSU (13-6, 5-0) fought back to tie the game and grab the lead at 21-20. UNM reasserted itself, tying the game at 26 before scoring the final four points to take the game.
The Rams scored the first three points of game two and never trailed in winning 30-21.
In game three, UNM got a spark from the bench from Reines, but the junior's presence was only a momentary remedy. The Lobos fought from a 6-1 deficit to take a 16-14 lead, but couldn't compete with the hard-hitting CSU players, who closed the third game the same way they closed the second - with a service ace.
In game four, the Lobos again took a commanding lead early, leading 7-1, but were unable to hold back the Rams' counter. CSU managed to tie the game at 10 and then controlled the tempo before closing the match with four consecutive points, to win 30-22.
UNM (6-12, 1-4 MWC) play.hits the road for MWC matches next weekend, taking on last place University of Nevada at Las Vegas on Friday and San Diego State University on Saturday. The Aztecs are tied for second with a 4-1 conference mark.
The Lobos' next home match is Nov. 1 versus Brigham Young University at Johnson Center.
