LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State volleyball will travel to Chicago, Ill. on Thursday to take on Chicago State and Kansas City, Mo. on Saturday to face off against UMKC. Thursday's match is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT.
The second match against UMKC will begin at 12 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live. Fans can watch the match on the WAC Digital Network.
The Aggies currently hold a two-match lead in conference play with an 11-1 record. Their lone WAC loss came on Oct. 29 as NM State fell to second-place CSU Bakersfield 25-14, 18-25, 18-25, 19-25, snapping an almost two-year, 24-match conference win streak. A win in either of their final two contests will capture the WAC regular-season title for the Aggies.
To this point in the season, the Aggies look to Jordan Abalos and Tatyana Battle who recently earned WAC Player of the Week honors (Nov. 7). Abalos leads the team with 371 kills (3.79 kills/set) and Battle is close behind with 322 (3.25 kills/set). Battle was named WAC Player of the Week after setting career-highs with 28 kills and 18 digs against UTRGV (Nov. 5).
Schedule
NM State vs. Chicago State: Thursday, Nov. 10 Start Time: 7 p.m., MT
NM State vs. UMKC: Saturday, Nov. 12 Start Time: 12 p.m., MT
· This is the eighth meeting with Chicago State. Earlier this season the Aggies swept the Cougars 25-19, 25-19, 25-20 in Las Cruces.
· Saturday's match will mark the ninth meeting with UMKC. Earlier this season the Aggies were down in set 2-0 and won the final three 25-17, 27-25, 15-12 in Las Cruces.
· NM State is currently in sole possession of first place in the WAC with a 11-1 conference record, and have a two game lead over the next closest team, CSU Bakersfield (9-3). A win will secure the regular-season title for the team.
· Junior Jordan Abalos is currently in second in the WAC in kills (3.79 per set).
· Junior Ariadnne Sierra is currently second in the WAC in digs (4.62 per set) and third in service aces (0.35 per set).
· The Aggies currently lead the WAC in kills per set (14.28) and assists per set (13.18) and opponent hitting percentage (.157). They are currently second in digs (15.08 per set). They are currently third in service aces (1.52 per set) and hitting percentage (.220).
