Lobos Downed in Four by Lopes - New Mexico Lobos - Official Athletics Website

The New Mexico volleyball team came within a single point of seizing a two-sets-to-one advantage Saturday afternoon before dropping a four-set decision to Grand Canyon at The Pit – Powered by Nusenda, according to the official athletics website GoLobos.com.

The 22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 13-25 defeat drops the Lobos to 9-13 overall and 7-5 in Mountain West play. Meanwhile, the Lopes improve to 13-10 on the season and match New Mexico’s 7-5 conference record.

Offensive Efficiency and Statistical Breakdowns

Saturday’s match saw the Lobos improve their hitting percentage to .155, a notable step up from the .066 mark they posted during Thursday’s meeting against the same program. New Mexico also managed to outdig Grand Canyon 69-62 over the course of the four sets.

Even with the defensive effort in the back row, the Lopes controlled several key statistical categories across the afternoon. Grand Canyon finished with 56 kills to New Mexico’s 49, outblocked the hosts 11-5, and tallied seven service aces compared to just three for the Lobos.

Seeane Brewer led the UNM attack with 14 kills. Mina Stanojevic contributed a double-double featuring 11 kills and 15 digs, while also accounting for all three of the team’s service aces.

Setter Madeleine Miller engineered the offense with a double-double of her own, recording 40 assists and 10 digs. Miller also chipped in five kills without committing an error on 10 total swings, good for a .500 hitting clip. Campbell Hollister added seven errorless kills on 16 attacks (.438) alongside two blocks, and Addison France posted nine kills and 10 digs.

Defensively, Camila Canedo anchored the back row with 24 digs, marking her eighth match of the season with 20 or more digs. At the net, Reagan Miller paced the Lobos with three blocks.

How the Four Sets Unfolded

The opening set featured a late charge by New Mexico before Grand Canyon secured the 25-22 win. The Lobos bounced back immediately in the second, putting together their most efficient offensive frame of the match. UNM tallied 15 kills on a .270 hitting percentage while holding the Lopes to .154, with Brewer putting down the final two points to level the match at one set apiece.

The third set proved to be the turning point of the afternoon. Facing an early 11-5 deficit, New Mexico clawed back with five consecutive points. Trailing 23-21 late in the frame, the Lobos strung together a kill by Hollister, a block by Hollister and France, and a kill from Stanojevic to capture set point at 24-23.

Grand Canyon managed to stave off the set point by rattling off three straight kills from Starr Williams to snatch the frame 26-24.

Momentum firmly on their side, the Lopes opened the fourth set by capitalizing on a decisive nine-point run. Grand Canyon coasted through the remainder of the frame, hitting .310 to close out the match 25-13.

The Road Ahead in Mountain West Play

The Lobos hit the road next week for a pair of conference matchups against Air Force, playing on Thursday and Saturday in Colorado Springs.

Both matches against the Falcons will be available to stream live on MW+, with live statistics provided through GoLobos.com/VBStats, as reported by GoLobos.com.