by Kenn Rodriguez
Daily Lobo
Despite their 7-14 record, the UNM volleyball team has not been a pushover this year.
Just ask the University of Utah. The Utes, currently ranked ranked 22nd in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25, had trouble beating the Lobos in Mountain West Conference play, beating UNM 3-1 at home in October.
UNM plays Utah Saturday and plays Brigham Young University tonight. Both matches are at Johnson Center.
The Cougars defeated the Lobos in three straight games in Provo, Utah on Oct. 5.
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"I thought we played fairly well against Utah, we just lost the game at the net," Sliva said. "Against BYU, we did not play well. We didn't play to our potential at all."
Sliva said the Lobos have spent the last few weeks concentrating on their own needs, even going so far as scaling back scouting reports on opponents.
"Honestly, I don't think we were having any fun playing the game, she said. "(Now) we're focusing on doing scouting on ourselves and enjoying the process."
With six games left in MWC play, the Lobos will continue to work on their inconsistent play. Sliva said that attribute has been a source of concern.
"The tendency has been that we under-perform against teams that are similar to us statistically and record-wise, and we overachieve against teams that we statistically, aren't supposed to beat," she said. "What we're trying to do is find a sense of self."
UNM plays BYU Friday in at 7 p.m. and Utah Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets for Friday's match are $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for youth. Tickets for Saturday's match - the annual "Jam Johnson" game - are $1. UNM students, staff and faculty get in free with a valid ID.
