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• Week Three • New Mexico at Borderland Invitational Co-Hosted by: UTEP and NMSU Fri. • Sept. 13 vs. NMSU (5-2) - 7 p.m.

Sat. • Sept. 14 vs. Texas-Pan American (0-6) - 1 p.m. vs. UTEP (2-4) - 7 p.m.

Update - The University of New Mexico volleyball team (0-6) travels to the Borderland Invitational this weekend, Sept. 13-14 in both Las Cruces, N.M. and El Paso, Texas. Cohosts NMSU and UTEP, Texas-Pan American and New Mexico comprise the tournament field.

UNM Tournament Schedule - The Lobos will play instate rival New Mexico State on Fri., Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. On Sat., Sept. 14, UNM will take on the Lady Broncs of Texas-Pan American at 1 p.m. followed by an evening match against the Miners of UTEP at 7 p.m.

Looking at the Competition - The Aggies of NMSU took the tournament title at the UW Green Bay AmeriHost Classic this past weekend, Sept. 6-7, defeating Drake, UW-Green Bay, Portland State and Western Illinois all in three games. NMSU is 5-2 on the season. Texas-Pan American is 0-6 on the season having lost this past weekend to Tennessee Tech, Xavier and Florida International, all in three games at the Xavier Invitational. UTEP participated in the Longhorn Classic in Austin, Texas, Sept. 6-7. The Lady Miners defeated Texas-San Antonio in three games, then lost to both Utah State (1-3) and host Texas in three. UTEP is 2-4 on the season.

vs. Borderland Invitational Opponents - NMSU holds a 26-22 series lead against the Lobos heading into their 49th meeting. The last time the two schools met last season with the Aggies taking the match in Las Cruces in three games, 30-25, 30-25, and 30-27. The Lobos will meet the Lady Broncs for the first time on Saturday. UNM has a 29-7 series lead against the UTEP Lady Miners. The Lobos defeated the Miners last season in three games, 30-27, 31-29, and 30-21 in Albuquerque.

Recap • Arizona Wildcat Classic - The Lobos played two top-15 teams at the Arizona Wildcat Classic this past weekend in Tucson. vs. Arizona -- the Lobos lost to the No. 11 ranked and host Arizona Wildcats in their first match of the Arizona Wildcat Classic in three games 30-23, 30-14, and 30-22 to fall to 0-5 on the season. Leading the Lobos statistically was senior Staci Masten who scored a team-high seven kills, a career-high for the Durango, Colo. native, and hit .357 on the night (7k-2e-14ta). Masten added three block assists. Sophomore Monica Meihack scored nine digs and totaled 21 assists on the evening. Meihack scored the Lobos lone service ace. Sophomore Cayse Kaveny lead the team in hitting with .455 for the match on six kills, one error in 11 attempts. Numbers wise UNM hit .111 on 25 kills, 15 errors in 90 attempts to UA’s .361 (56k-17e-108ta). The Wildcats defensively had 40 digs to the Lobos 27. Arizona outblocked New Mexico 5.0 to 3.0.

vs. Pepperdine -- UNM fell to the No. 14 ranked Pepperdine Waves in their final match of the Arizona Wildcat Classic. The Lobos lost in three games 30-20, 30-18, and 30-19 to remain winless on the season at 0-6. Senior Vanessa Shields had 14 kills to pace the Lobo attack. Shields hit .267 for the match on 14 kills, six errors in 30 attempts. It was the fourth match this season the senior from Grover Beach, Calif. scored double figure kills. Defensively two Lobos scored double digit digs including sophomore setter Monica Meihack with 11, and senior Blaire Burns, who is playing the libero, with 10. This was Meihack's third double-double of the season. As a team the Lobos hit .088 (31k-21e-113ta) to the Waves .366 (47k-10e-101ta). New Mexico had 36 digs and four service aces on the match. Pepperdine outblocked UNM 7.0 to 4.0.

Head Coach Kelley Sliva - Sliva comes to UNM after spending the past nine years at Northern Arizona University. Her career record stands at 143-110 (.565). While at NAU, Sliva took the Lumberjacks to their first NCAA Volleyball Championship appearance (1999) and earned two Big Sky titles (1999 tournament and 2000 regular season). Sliva was named the 1999 Big Sky Coach of the Year. Sliva’s NAU teams scored five straight winning seasons, going 90-45 since the 1997 season.

Mountain West Conference - The Lobos were selected to finish seventh in the MWC preseason volleyball coaches poll. According to the league’s coaches Utah, followed by CSU will rank No. 1 and 2. BYU, San Diego State, UNLV, Wyoming, UNM and Air Force round out the poll.

Libero - The NCAA is implementing several rules changes this season including adding the libero (lee-bah-ro), which is a designated back-row player, intended to be used as a ball-control specialist. The libero is allowed to replace any player in the back row without counting as a substitution. There is no limit to the number of libero replacements a team is allowed. The color of the libero’s uniform must contrast from the color of her teammates uniforms. Some playing restrictions for the libero include: playing in the back row only; may not serve; and may not block or attempt to block.

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Lobos Women's Volleyball

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