Ute Volleyball Drops Four-set Decision to New Mexico

Saturday, October 10

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 PM

University of Utah

New Mexico

Ute Volleyball Drops Four-set Decision to New Mexico

10/10/2009 12:00 AM | Volleyball

Oct. 10, 2009

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - Senior outside hitter Cinthia Silva came up with her ninth career double-double with 12 digs and 11 kills but the University of Utah volleyball team dropped a 3-1 match (12-25, 19-25, 25-23, 21-25) to New Mexico Saturday at Crimson Court.

Utah (12-6, 5-1 MWC) had its 19-match Mountain West Conference win streak snapped and dropped to 21-3 at Crimson Court since 2008. The Utes had won 17 straight MWC contests in their home facility.

"We just got beat this afternoon," Utah head coach Beth Launiere said. "New Mexico played hard and well. There are some things we know we need to get better at and those things showed up today. We just have to keep working hard and getting better. I've been saying that all season."

Silva led the team in digs for the first time this season and led or tied for team lead in kills for the second match this season. The San Paulo, Brazil native also had six digs.

Senior middle blocker Chelsey Sandberg had nine kills to go with a team-high four blocks. The West Jordan, Utah native posted a team-high hitting percentage of .412, committing only two errors on 17 swings. She also served a team-high two aces.

Sophomore Sarah Hibbert tallied eight kills with two digs and a block, while junior opposite hitter Karolina Bartkowiak came up with nine kills, six digs and two blocks.

The Utes were outhit by the Lobos, .377 to .197, and were also at a 13-5.5 disadvantage in the team block category.

Junior setter Stephanie Neeley distributed 22 assists while sophomore Abby Simmons handed out 19. Neeley, a Saugus, Calif., also came up with her seventh seven-dig performance this season.

Junior libero Keisha Fisher reached double-figures in digs for the 50th time in her career and for the 12th straight match. Fisher had 11 digs and has posted double digits in 17 of 18 matches in 2009.

New Mexico jumped out to a 4-1 lead and was eventually able to extend its lead to 12 points at 21-9 and earned a 25-12 victory to start the match. The Lobos outhit the Utes .750 to .146 and managed a 3-0 edge in team blocks in the opener. The Utah attack was led by three kills from Sandberg while Danielle Killpack and Hibbert both contributed a pair. Killpack needed only four swings and did not commit a single error during the set to post a team-high .500 hitting percentage.

The Lobos gained a slight two-point edge at 7-5 in the second set then went on a 4-0 spurt to assume a 16-11 lead in the middle of the second set. UNM was able to extend its spread to six points to take a 25-19 second-set victory. Silva and Jennifer Lanting contributed four kills apiece but the Utes were still outhit .469 to .273 and at a 3-1 disadvantage in team blocks for the second set.

Utah took its largest lead of the match until that point by jumping out to a 6-2 lead at the beginning of the third set. The Lobos came back to force the first tie of the set at 17 points apiece midway through the set. The Utes responded with a 4-1 run to seize a 21-18 lead but UNM scored the next three points to tie the set for the second time at 21-21. The set was tied two more times but the Utes closed out the set by scoring the last two points on a Silva kill and a block from Silva and Sandberg to earn a 25-23 win to bring the match to a 2-1 score.

Hibbert hit a team-high four kills in the set and Sandberg provided three. Sandberg was perfect on three attempts, while Silva came up with six digs to help the Utes outhit the Lobos, .214 to .179. The team blocks were even at two as Sandberg and Silva both had two blocks apiece.

The Utes got out to a 4-2 advantage as the third set started and held either a one of two-point lead until the Lobos were able to tie the set for the first time at 10-10. From there, UNM went on a 6-1 run to take control of the set and assume a 16-11 advantage. New Mexico held its five-point advantage until the score was 23-18 but Utah scored three unanswered points. Unfortunately, the Lobos were able to capture the match finale by taking the final two points.

In the fourth set, Silva connected on a team-high five kills while Bartkowiak provided four. The Utes hit for a .147 mark, compared to .270 for the Lobos.

New Mexico (12-6, 4-3 MWC) was led by Rose Morris, who tallied a match-high 17 kills. Taylor Hadfield complimented Morris with 16 kills of her own while Ashley Rhoades added 15.

"New Mexico came out and was really aggressive," Launiere said. "They put us on our heels from the start. Once we adjusted their attack, we were able to get into a good four-set match. Our team did a good job of battling."

The Utes continue MWC play next weekend as they travel to Laramie, Wyo., to face the Cowgirls Thursday at 7 p.m. MT.