Wolf Pack volleyball sweeps Louisiana Tech

RENO - The University of Nevada volleyball team returned to the win column by knocking off league foe Louisiana Tech 30-15, 30-27 and 30-28 Thursday evening before 355 fans at the Virginia Street Gym.

"We were fired up. We love playing in our gym with our crowd," said Teal Ericson, who had a game-high 16 kills.

The Wolf Pack (8-6, 2-0), which lost to UNLV Monday on the road, face their biggest challenge Saturday when they host No. 22 New Mexico State at 7 p.m.

Karly Sipherd powered 11kills and six block assists against the Lady Techsters and Tristin Johnson dished out 33 assists. Allison Hernandez had a team-high 11 digs.

Nevada coach Devin Scruggs pointed out the biggest improvement from the UNLV match was blocking. Nevada recorded 11 blocks against La. Tech but had only seven on Monday.

"We blocked better. I think the blocking set the tone in the first two games," the 10th-year coach said. "It really helped us. We went away from it in game 3. We finished strong with it."

Scruggs was also pleased with her backup setter's performance.

"The biggest adjustment was putting in Sonnie (Sei) at setter," Scruggs said of her freshman, who recorded six assists in the third game. "She came through. There's always some pain going on (with Tristin). She was having trouble moving."

Anytime Nevada has a poor road trip, players and coaches are happy to return to Reno where the Wolf Pack had an 8-1 home record.

"I think playing at home is a big difference," Ericson said. "We have to become comfortable with whatever our surroundings are. Half our matches are on the road."

Several implications surround Saturday's contest with the Aggies beginning with Nevada advancing to last year's NCAA Tournament while NMSU sat out. NMSU advanced to the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament, but Nevada's win over a Top 25 team during the regular season assured it of a berth in the NCAAs.

"I want to beat New Mexico State more than anything else. It's a personal rivalry," Ericson, a Tahoe City native, said. "Neither one of us like each other much. We want them to come here and play poorly."

The Aggies, though, returned most of their team and are 17-0 on the year, good enough for a Top 25 ranking and first place in the league with Hawai'i and Nevada.

"It will be a great match," Scruggs said. "It's youth night and we're looking forward to having a packed gym. They are a fantastic team. They returned everybody from last year and have only gotten better."

Because the Wolf Pack did not play a Top 25 team so far this season, it will be crucial for Nevada to win on Saturday to strengthen their hopes of advancing to NCAAs. The only other ranked teams left on the schedule are Hawai'i and possibly BYU.

"It was kind of disappointing in the preseason," Sipherd said about not playing any Top 25 teams. "Beating them right now, no matter what, is a good win. That will always be on our record. Right now we're 2-0 in conference, we need to play strong and do everything right."