For four seniors on the University of New Mexico volleyball squad, this weekend will be the ultimate chance for redemption in a season filled with high hopes.
The Lobos and their seniors will take center stage for their final home series against their conference rivals from the west, San Diego State University and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. The matches are the final tune-up in preparation for the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
Seniors Vanessa Shields, Kelly Griffin, Blaire Burns and Staci Masten have watched the volleyball program remain under construction for their entire tenure at UNM.
Griffin, the team's leader, has faced the burden of riding the pine. She suffered a season-ending leg injury in the preseason. Griffin has watched her team fall to 7-18 overall and to the cellar of the conference.
For first-year head coach Kelley Sliva, this year is a contrast to her successful past. The past nine years, Sliva coached Northern Arizona University and led the team to a record of 150-122, including a winning record the past five years. She also brought NAU to its first ever NCAA Volleyball Championship appearance. Taking the helm at UNM was an opportunistic chance for the veteran coach, but the season did not play out in storybook fashion. Sliva and her team will have to regroup and continue the rebuilding process.
Earlier this year, the Lobos lost a pair of matches on the road to SDSU 1-3 and UNLV 0-3. Conference powerhouse SDSU currently stands tied for second in the conference with Utah and sits one game behind league leading Colorado State. With an overall record of 18-11 and 9-3 in the conference, SDSU will be a challenge for the Lobo squad.
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UNLV stands in the way as well. With a record of 9-17 overall and 5-7 in the MWC, UNLV is in sixth place in the conference. The Rebels hold a commanding three-game lead over the Lobos.
Home court has been friendly to the Lobos this year as UNM has won five of nine matches played at Johnson Arena.
Burns, Masten and Shields have all had remarkable farewell seasons. They provided stability throughout the year, playing consistently while keeping team spirit up.
They will be sorely missed next season as the Lobos try to forget this year and move toward the future.
UNM battles SDSU on Friday Nov. 15 and takes on UNLV Saturday Nov.16. Both matches are slated for a 7 p.m. start at Johnson Arena. The seniors will be honored during Saturday's match.
