Time for Jam Johnson and Love Red Live Green
Tickets just $3 for Sept. 23 game against TCU
Sept. 20, 2011
Lobo Volleyball – at home in the Mountain West
Who: Lobos vs. TCU
When/Where: 7 p.m., Friday – Johnson Center
Who: Lobos vs. Texas Tech
When/Where: 7 p.m., Monday – Johnson Center
Download Love Red Live Green Flyer (PDF)
Download TCU/Texas Tech Volleyball Notes (PDF)
ALBUQUERQUE , N.M. — The Lobos begin Mountain West play against the TCU Horned Frogs on Friday at 7 p.m. in Johnson Center. It’s Jam Johnson night against the Horned Frogs and the Lobos expect fans to show up in bunches. It will be the first conference game for both teams this season. Each team was picked to finish high in the MW coaches’ preseason poll, with UNM picked to finish second and TCU picked to finish fourth. The Lobos also battle Texas Tech 7 p.m. on Monday. This will be the first time coach Nelson has faced the school that gave him his head coaching start. Nelson coached at Texas Tech from 1995-02.
Jam Johnson and Love Red Live Green: The volleyball team would like to see fans show up in bunches for Jam Johnson night vs. TCU Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the low price of $3. Senior Kelly Williamson is putting together her “Love Red Live Green” campaign that night as well. The aim of the event it to have no trash generated during the game end up in the landfill, so there will be recycling and composting bins set up in place of all trash cans in the gym.
NEW MEXICO AT A GLANCE: The Lobos’ record is 7-3 after going 2-1 at the Pitt Blue and Gold Classic, beating Delaware, 3-1, Temple, 3-1 and losing to Pitt, 2-3 … Seniors Allison Buck and Ashley Rhoades were named to the All-Tournament Team for their performances … Buck set a new career-high in digs with 36 in the match with Delaware.
Last season, the Lobos made it to the NCAA Tournament for the second season in a row. The Lobos hadn’t made it to two consecutive postseasons since they did it in the 1993, `94 seasons, which happened to be the end of a five-year postseason run that spanned from 1990-94, and was subsequently the last time the Lobos were in the NCAA Tournament. With the appearance in 2009, the Lobos broke a drought of 14 years between trips to the national post-season. With last year’s postseason berth, UNM now has nine trips to the NCAA Tournament (1981, `88, `90, `91, `92, `93, `94, `09, 2010).
TCU AT A GLANCE: Fresh off winning the Seton Hall Invitational, their fourth straight tournament title, the TCU Horned Frogs continue to remain undefeated in 2011 with a record of 13-0. TCU is one of just eight undefeated teams in the country. The 13-0 start to the season breaks the previous school record of 9-0 for best start to a season. The Horned Frogs currently sit atop the Mountain West standings.
TEXAS TECH AT A GLANCE: The Red Raiders enter this weekend’s tournament boasting a 12-1 record, marking the program’s best start since 2000. The 12-match winning streak is the school’s longest run since 1996 when the Red Raiders won 15-straight to open the season. The Red Raiders currently sit atop the Big 12 conference standings.
Against TCU (8-6) : The Lobos are 8-6 all time versus the Horned Frogs. The two teams split matches last year with UNM winning 3-0 in Albuquerque and TCU winning 3-0 in Fort Worth. UNM holds an impressive 6-1 record when playing the Horned Frogs in Johnson Center.
Against Texas Tech (8-9) : The Lobos are 8-9 all time versus the Red Raiders. The Lobos have lost in the last three meetings between the two teams, most recently in 2001, when Texas Tech won 3-0 at home. .
COACH NELSON: The Lobos are led by Coach Jeff Nelson, who is in his fifth year at New Mexico and carries a 86-43; 40-24 MW, record into Friday’s game against TCU.
NELSON FACES FAMILIAR FOE … Head coach Jeff Nelson will face the school that gave him his head coaching start in Texas Tech. Nelson compiled a record of 166-95 in nine years as the Red Raid- ers coach from 1995-02. He had great success at Texas Tech, coaching the Red Raiders to five NCAA tournament appearances.