The University of New Mexico’s volleyball team won in four sets against the Air Force Academy Falcons on Tuesday, Nov. 12, keeping a tournament appearance alive.
Head Coach Jon Newman-Gonchar said he’s excited for the team and its ability to fight after winning three games in a row thus far.
“I’m stoked for the team, you know? They’re playing hard,” Newman-Gonchar said. “They know it’s one of those weeks where it’s ‘sleep, drive, sleep, drive.’”
On Nov. 9, the Lobos faced the Utah State University Aggies at home and won in an exhausting five-set victory. They continued their path to victory against the Falcons.
The Lobos shifted to 12-13 overall and 5-10 in conference play. They knew they had to secure another win to get closer to a tournament, and they did exactly that.
The Lobos played competitively, holding the Falcons to .102 hitting while outblocking them 13-8 and outdigging them 69-59. This match was the fourth straight in which the Lobos finished with double-digit team blocks and outpaced their opponent at the net.
Their success began in the first set, when the Lobos had unrivaled chemistry on the court. Outside hitter Kialah Jefferson racked up an impressive five kills, leading the Lobos to a 25-14 victory.
The first set looked like the rest of the night would make for an easy win, but the Lobos were proven otherwise in the second set.
The Lobos and Falcons went back and forth, answering for points scored by the opposing team. The Lobos began trailing behind the Falcons after winning by 11 in the first set. Fans howled as the Lobos attempted to claw their way to victory — even tying the score several times — only to come up short 21-25.
The third set began similarly, with UNM trailing before a late push to tie it at 20-20. The Lobos fought for victory over the Falcons, with the Lobos scoring five of the next eight to secure a victory.
Two of the set's final kills were delivered by middle blocker Liepa Lavickyte, who has been a key component in the Lobos' success both offensively and defensively on the court.
On Nov. 11, Lavickyte was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week. She was rewarded for her performance during UNM’s three-match win streak. She continued to prove her worth as a defensive weapon for the Lobos against the Falcons.
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Over UNM’s 2-0 weekend, Lavickyte led the league in blocks, with 21 block assists for a total of 2.33 blocks. This solidified her as a threat on the court. She continued to lead UNM, with seven block assists and a solo block against the Falcons.
Lavickyte was not the only weapon UNM had in store for the Falcons. UNM also saw huge contributions from outside hitters Jefferson and Lauryn Payne, who both led UNM’s attack with 16 kills each. The two athletes were nearly unstoppable on offense, with Jefferson hitting .244 and picking up 14 digs, and Payne hitting .220.
Setter Madeleine Miller also picked up 13 digs for the Lobos during the game, preventing a handful of potential points scored by the Falcons and keeping the volleyball alive in play.
Even with strong play coming from these athletes, the Lobos had to fight to end the third match 25-23, barely scraping a 2-1 lead.
In the fourth set, the Lobos played another intense game and won against the Falcons 25-18. Jefferson’s fiery offense set the court ablaze, illuminating the path to a Lobo victory. She finished the final set with an incredible ace and four kills, one being the game-winning point that finalized the victory.
The Lobos defeated the Falcons 3-1 with a tournament appearance on the horizon. And with another victory on their plate, the Lobos geared up against the Boise State University Broncos in a home game on Thursday, Nov. 14.
With an emphasis on making a tournament appearance, Newman-Gonchar said his team doesn’t intend on slowing down.
“The message is clear: We just keep on getting better,” Newman-Gonchar said. “So we’re going to go back, we’re going to watch some film study on Boise, and we’re going to get ready to get better.”
Izabella Kubiak-Reseigh is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at sports@dailylobocom or on X @kubiakizabella
