After taking the first set in the Rio Grande Rivalry, New Mexico fell the New Mexico State 3-1.
In the last nonconference game of the regular season, UNM had trouble capitalizing against the Aggies, dropping three sets in a row.
New Mexico (8-7, 1-1 MW) jumped out to a hot start, something head coach Jeff Nelson has preached to his squad all year. However, following the Lobos dominant 25-20 showing, the Lobos couldn’t manage another.
Devanne Sours ended the night with a solid 14 kills, but New Mexico’s outside hitter struggled with consistency with eight kills, tied for the matches’ most.
The Lobos didn’t hit well as a group, only hitting .174 after all four sets compared to the Aggies’ .268 performance. UNM hit .416 in the first set, but just couldn’t find its way back to a sound offensive attack.
NMSU (11-5) received a balanced and punishing attack from the outside and the middle. Outside hitter Bradley Nash put together a 14 kill night, hitting .444 while middle blocker Gwen Murphy carried the game-high with 15 kills on a .313 hitting night.
New Mexico will shift its focus back on the conference on a road-trip to San Jose State (9-6, 1-1 MW). The Lobos will need to find a way to gear up for the totality of the game in order to play with some of the better teams in the conference.
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at assistantsports@dailylobo.com or on twitter @Liam_CE.
