The University of New Mexico volleyball team won in a nail-biting five-set victory over the Utah State University Aggies on Saturday, Nov. 9.
The Lobos beat two Mountain West rival teams in one week, giving UNM fans whiplash after their previous nine consecutive losses. UNM rose to 11-13 overall and 4-10 in conference play, keeping the door open for a tournament appearance.
Head Coach Jon Newman-Gonchar attributed his team's two wins at home to their resilience on the court and their motivation for a tournament.
“This team doesn’t back down, and they fight the end — and you see what happens when a team never quits,” Newman-Gonchar said. “We’re going to give it a hell of a shot.”
The Lobos had no small feat, as they were tasked with beating a team that just won four games straight and the last four matches against the Lobos. However, the Lobos were determined to win.
In the first set, the Lobos fell 18-25 after making some mistakes. The Lobos began serving into the net and out of bounds, not playing as aggressively as the Aggies. Although the Lobos made a decent effort to come back, it was not enough to combat the Aggies’ swift offense.
The second set began bleakly, with a point gained by Utah off a UNM serve. The Lobos spent the majority of the second set falling behind. They quickly recovered after a dramatic kill by outside hitter Lauryn Payne which set the tone for the rest of the set, steadily climbing to a 25-20 victory.
The third set started strong for UNM but quickly fizzled for a loss of 18-25. The set began tied 2-2 with Utah State, going back and forth and answering points scored. However, the Lobos’ defense could not protect against the brutal Aggie offense.
Entering the fourth set, the Lobos’ motivation on the court surged, despite what could have been a death sentence. At this point, Utah State only needed one more set to claim victory at Johnson Center, but the Lobos would not allow that to happen, especially with alums watching.
Middle blocker Elizabeth Woods attributed the gain in confidence on the court to her past teammate Kaitlynn Biassou, who was an outside hitter for the Lobos and now plays in Barcelona.
“Having her courtside was very motivational. She came into the beginning of this season and gave us a lot of advice,” Woods said. “She’s our biggest support system.”
The Lobos’ win did not happen instantly, as they had to fight after Utah State took the lead early in the set. When the scoreboard read 19-23, the Lobos turned up the heat, tying the set 23-23. Outside hitter Kialah Jefferson sparked a victory with her eighth kill of the night before sealing the deal with her ninth, leaving the path to victory open for the Lobos in a fifth set.
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Biassou watched as her team managed to claw its way to a fifth set after a disappointing start. Biassou said she was thrilled the Lobos kept trying.
“They showed a lot of resilience. They could have easily gave up after that first set because they didn’t finish strong,” Biassou said. “But they bounced right back when they needed to.”
The fifth set was a nail-biter for fans draped in cherry. The Lobos only needed to score 15 points to win, but they kept going back and forth with Utah State, tying for 12-12. The Lobos understood that winning wouldn't be an easy feat, but made it possible after fighting tooth and nail for a 15-12 win.
The Lobos outlasted the Aggies, thanks to athletes like Madeleine Miller and Liepa Lavickyte, who put in a significant effort.
Miller generated 29 assists and put away six kills on nine attempts without an attacking error (.667) — four of which came on six attempts in the final two sets, helping the Lobos make a comeback. Miller also picked up 12 digs.
Lavickyte helped secure the Lobos’ victory after leading the team in blocks for the 11th time this season, finishing with nine block assists and putting away five kills during the match.
Ultimately, the Lobos added another win to their plate as they head into their next conference matchup.
“We need to keep going,” Newman-Gonchar said. “We gotta be the team that finishes hot in the end.”
The Lobos will take the next couple of days to prepare for their next challenge, facing Air Force Academy during Military Responders Day on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Elizabeth Bolke is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
Izabella Kubiak-Reseigh is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @kubiakizabella
