VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN FOUR TO NEW MEXICO IN FIRST ROUND OF TOURNAMENT PLAY

9/10/2010

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- New Mexico had four players record double figures in kills and Sacramento State hit a season-low .070 as the Lobos defeated the Hornets, 3-1 (25-16, 25-23, 21-25, 25-14), in the first round of the Comcast Volleyball Challenge Friday afternoon at the Johnson Center.

The match marked the first for both teams at the two-day tournament. Sacramento State (5-4 overall) had its three-match winning streak snapped, and will return later today to take on UC Santa Barbara in the second round at 4:15 p.m. New Mexico, which is hosting the tournament, improved to 3-4 overall and 1-0 at the tournament.

The Hornets failed to hit anything better than .161 in any of the four sets during the match, including a negative percentage (-.021) during the set they won. Of the 157 swings Sacramento State accumulated, the team had 41 kills compared to 30 errors. In fact, the only Hornet (with the more than two kills) to hit better than .200 in the match was junior Cayti Crowton who had a season-high 10 kills and a .208 hitting percentage.

New Mexico held an advantage over Sacramento State in every statistical category, including kills (56-41), hitting percentage (.192-.070), assists (54-38), aces (4-2), digs (71-61) and team blocks (11.5-7.0). Still, the Hornets found a way to stay in the match, including a second set they nearly won. Sacramento State found itself down just 24-23 in the second, but a combo block by Ashley Rhoades and Jade Michaelsen gave the Lobos the frame.

Junior Eryn Kirby led the Hornets with 17 kills, and now has at least 16 kills in three consecutive matches. Crowton (10) and sophomore Janelle Currey (seven kills, 10 digs) were the only other Hornets with more than three kills. Junior Breanne Menees, who is currently second in the Big Sky Conference in digs, led all players with 26 digs. Kelsey Elston added a team-best five blocks (including three solos) and setter Katie Aprile finished with 24 assists and nine digs.

The four New Mexico players with double figures in kills were Kelly Williamson (16), Taylor Hadfield (15), Rhoades (11) and Lisa Meeter (10). The four players combined for all but four of the Lobos’ kills for the match.