New Mexico Gets Past Broncos in Four

Thursday, November 2

Boise, Idaho

7 p.m. MT

Boise State

11-12,7-6Mountain West

New Mexico

17-7,9-4Mountain West

New Mexico

Boise St.

Paige Bartsch attacking the ball, pictured here against Fresno State.

11/2/2023 10:06:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

BOISE, Idaho - Boise State fell in four sets, 25-20, 21-25, 25-16, 25-16 to the New Mexico Lobos in a Mountain West match Thursday night in Bronco Gym.

After leading early in the first set, the Broncos saw New Mexico use a 4-1 run to break a 6-6 tie to put the Lobos up 10-7. Boise State kept it close but could not regain the lead as UNM took the opening frame by five, 25-20.

Up one at 5-4 in set two, Boise State used a 7-3 run to take control up 12-7. The Broncos never trailed again in the frame and led by as many as seven before taking it 25-21 over the Lobos.

Boise State struggled to hit the ball in the final two sets, hitting below 12 percent in each frame as New Mexico regrouped from the set two loss to win the third and fourth by 25-16 scores.

Quotables

"I think we've played better; tonight was frustrating," said head coach Shawn Garus. "I think as a whole. Nobody seemed to have the rhythm and the confidence that we wanted in the match; that is something that we have to do better on. We need to be ready to take the floor at the beginning and compete more consistently throughout to get a good win."

Top Broncos

Paige Bartsch led the Broncos with a team-high 26 kills to go with 13 digs, one block assist and 26.5 points.
Anabel Kotzakov added a double-double on 13 kills and 11 digs to go with one service ace, one block assist and 14.5 points.
From the setter position, Noelani Helm recorded a double-double on a team-high 38 assists and 11 digs.
Breanna Mitchell -- the libero -- led defensively, tallying a team-high 20 digs.

Notables

Helm recorded her 11th double-double of the year, Bartsch earned her eighth, and Kotzakov finished with her first.
Bartsch's 26 kills marked the 10th time this season she has tallied 20-plus kills; 26 kills are tied for the fourth most in a four-set match during the rally scoring era.
Bartsch moved into a tie for 10th place all-time in program history for kills in a season with 416, which is eighth during the rally scoring era.
Bartsch's 26.5 points tied for the eighth most in a four-set match during the rallying scoring era at Boise State.
Bartsch moved into seventh place for points (485) in a season in program history (the points statistic began with the rally scoring era in 2001).
Mitchell recorded her fifth contest this season with 20 or more digs.
The loss moved the Broncos to 11-12 overall and 7-6 in conference action.
The 1,047 people in attendance marked the 10th time this year that Boise State has reached 1,000 for a match in 2023.

What's Next

Boise State will close the two-match homestand Saturday afternoon when the Broncos host the Air Force Falcons; first serve will be at noon in Bronco Gym.