ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Nevada Volleyball continued conference play Friday, playing the front end of a two-game road series against New Mexico. The Pack lost in three sets (25-14, 25-20, 25-14).
The Lobos came out strong to start set one, earning three and four-point runs to take an early 9-3 lead. Malia Pilimai notched two kills to light up the Pack in the middle of the set, down 15-5. Along with Pilimai, Karly Bonaventure added kills deep in the set, but the Lobos eventually ran the set out 25-14.
The Pack found attacking momentum early in set two, mixing kills around the offense, trailing 12-11. The Lobos then went on a five-point run to extend their lead to 17-11. Pilimai, Paige Thies and Madison Long inspired the Pack to cut the lead to 19-16, before the Lobos played strong at the net to win the set 25-20.Â
Set three was opened with back and forth play, with Long and Pilimai leading the Pack early, down 5-3. The Lobos then stretched their lead out with a three-point run to lead 8-3. Kills from Pilimai, Thies and Bonaventure kept that Pack fight alive but a five-point run put the Lobos up 15-6 at the media timeout. A three-point Pack run gave spark to the Nevada offense, before another five-point Lobos run stretched the game out, eventually taking the set 25-14.Â
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Madison Long led the Wolf Pack with 10 kills while adding two blocks, and Malia Pilimai followed with nine kills on a .231 hitting percentage. Paige Thies contributed eight kills, four digs, and a service ace, while Karly Bonaventure chipped in three kills. Adriana Dorn directed the Nevada offense with 25 assists, and Masyn Navarro led the defense with a match-high 10 digs while adding an assist and a service ace. Nevada also received defensive contributions from Summer Suppik and Paige Thies, who tallied four digs apiece, while Madison Long led the team at the net with two blocks.
The Pack will return to The Pit to play the backend of the road series on Sunday.Â
