Staff Report
The Lobos volleyball team started strong in the Albuturkey Tournament Friday, defeating Butler University Bulldogs and Rice University, but ultimately lost to powerhouse the UCLA Bruins Saturday in Johnson Arena to place second in the holiday tournament.
UCLA 3, UNM 0
Ranked 21st in the nation, UCLA swept the match 30-17, 30-20 and 30-24, and celebrated a 3-0 victory over the Lobos taking the tournament title. With a 2-1 record, UNM finished second.
The Lobos were overpowered and outgunned by the Bruin hitters -- Heather Cullen rounded up a percentage of .500 with 11 kills one error in 20 attacks. UNM hit a percentage of .069 on 30 kills and 23 errors in 102 attacks. They also had 12 defensive block assists and scored 36 digs.
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Junior outside hitter Anna Reines was the only Lobo to score double figure kills, tallying 11.
UNM 3, Butler 1
In Friday's first game against Butler, Reines scored 20 kills. Senior Vanessa Shields led the team in hitting percentage, which was .438 on nine kills with two errors in 16 attacks. Blaire Burns snagged the first double-double of her career with 11 kills and 13 digs.
As a team the Lobos hit a percentage of .260 on 65 kills with 21 errors on 164 attempts. UNM out blocked BU 9.5 to 7.5. The Lobos defeated the Butler University Bulldogs in four games, 26-30, 30-27, 31-29 and 30-25.
UNM 3, Rice 2
On Friday night the Lobos beat the Rice Owls by scores of 23-30, 30-19, 30-28 and 32-30. UNM's record was 10-20 on the season heading into the games with UCLA.
Reines, Shields, Burns and Staci Masten all scored double figure kills. Three Lobos scored double-doubles including Shields with 14 kills and 12 digs, Burns with 13 kills and 12 digs and sophomore setter Monica Meihack who had 51 assists and 12 digs.
Reines and Shields were named to the Albuturkey All-Tournament team, which consists of Rebeca Pazo from Rice University, Butler University's Amanda Matthews and Cira Wright and Chrissie Zartman of UCLA. Brynn Murphy, also from UCLA, was named the Tournament's MVP.
Overall, the Lobos finished the season with a record of 10-21 and 3-11 in conference play in head coach Kelly Silva's first season.
