The University of New Mexico is making waves across the board this summer — from national academic honors on the baseball diamond to bold new fan initiatives and a freshly released volleyball schedule packed with marquee matchups. With a renewed focus on community engagement, student-athlete excellence, and growing the Lobo brand, UNM Athletics is laying the groundwork for a high-energy 2025 season across all sports.
Academic Excellence on the Diamond: UNM Baseball Honored by ABCA
In a testament to their dedication both on and off the field, the University of New Mexico baseball team has been recognized with the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award for the 2024–25 academic year. The honor, announced Wednesday, celebrates programs across high school and college baseball that achieved a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or higher — a standard the Lobos soared past with a 3.51.
UNM is one of more than 750 programs nationwide to earn the distinction, which is presented in partnership with Sports Attack. The recognition marks the fourth consecutive year that the Lobos have earned the award, further solidifying their reputation as a program that values academic achievement as much as athletic performance.
Head coach Tod Brown continues to set a high standard in the classroom, having guided the team to 25 semesters of a 3.0 GPA or better over the last 26 grading periods. Each of the program’s five best semester GPA marks has come under Brown’s leadership.
The Lobos also put together a successful season on the field, finishing 30–23 and reaching the Mountain West Tournament for the second year in a row — a reflection of the program’s strong all-around culture.
UNM Athletics Opens the Gates: Free Admission Initiative for Key Sports
UNM Athletics is lowering the barrier to entry — literally.
In a move aimed at enhancing fan experience and deepening ties to the community, the department announced a new initiative to offer free admission to all home events for women’s soccer, softball, baseball, and outdoor track & field starting with the 2025–26 season.
These sports now join others — including swimming & diving, men’s and women’s tennis, and golf — as non-ticketed events. The announcement reflects a strategic fan-focused shift led by Vice President/Director of Athletics Fernando Lovo.
“Engaging our community in all aspects of Lobo Athletics is one of our highest priorities,” Lovo said. “By offering complimentary admission to several of our Olympic sports, we’re making a strategic decision in access, energy, and community pride.”
This initiative is not just about increasing attendance but about fostering stronger connections across the state — inviting more families, students, and aspiring athletes to experience Division I competition in their backyard.
Ticketed events, such as volleyball and indoor track meets at the Albuquerque Convention Center, will continue as paid admission events. In response to questions from fans, UNM has clarified that the Lobo Pride Pass — which previously granted access to Olympic sports — will be discontinued for these now-free events. Volleyball season tickets will be available separately for the first time ever, offering a new way for fans to support the program while enjoying savings across a full home schedule.
Fans looking to further support Lobo Athletics are encouraged to contribute to the Lobo Club, the Lobo Alliance, or sport-specific funds — with ticket purchases for football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball still playing a vital role in supporting student-athletes across the department.
Volleyball Ready to Roll: 2025 Season Features 14 Home Matches, NMSU Rivalry, and New MW Opponent
Lobo Volleyball fans won’t have to wait long for the action to start in 2025.
UNM has released its full 2025 volleyball schedule, featuring 14 home matches and several exciting highlights, including the return of in-state rival New Mexico State and the Mountain West debut of new conference member Grand Canyon University.
The season begins Aug. 23 with a home exhibition against D-II New Mexico Highlands, followed by the annual Lobo Invitational (Aug. 29–30), featuring Manhattan, Northern Arizona, and Houston Christian. The Lobos, who have averaged over 800 fans per match for three straight seasons, will look to continue that strong home support at the Johnson Center.
A pair of road tournaments follow — one hosted by Tarleton State (Sept. 4–6) and another in Riverside, Calif., hosted by Cal Baptist (Sept. 11–13) — before the team dives into the 18-match Mountain West schedule.
Conference play kicks off at home with a four-match stretch against Utah State, Boise State, Colorado State, and Wyoming between Sept. 25 and Oct. 4. UNM’s first conference road test comes Oct. 9 at San Diego State, followed by matchups at Grand Canyon (Oct. 11) and UNLV (Oct. 16).
The Lobos will also host Grand Canyon (Oct. 18), Nevada (Oct. 30), Air Force (Nov. 1), UNLV (Nov. 6), and San Diego State (Nov. 8) in a critical late-season stretch that includes Senior Day against the Aztecs.
UNM closes the regular season with a tough road slate at Nevada, Air Force, Wyoming, and Colorado State. If the Lobos qualify, they’ll head to Las Vegas for the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship (Nov. 26–29), hosted at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus.
After a rocky start in 2024 that saw the Lobos lose seven straight, they finished strong by winning four of their final six. Despite missing the MW tournament last fall, the team led the conference in digs per set (15.77) and ranked second in blocks per set (2.53) — two promising metrics as they aim to return to postseason play in 2025.