LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State volleyball travels to Tucson, Ariz., for the Wildcat Classic beginning on Friday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. (MT) with a match against Illinois State. The Aggies also take on tournament host Arizona on Friday at 8 p.m. NM State closes out the Wildcat Classic against William & Mary on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 10:30 a.m. Fans can stream all three matches for free online on the Pac-12 Networks live.

RIVETING RANKINGS

Nationally, New Mexico State ranks 13th in digs per set (18.09), 14th in opponent hitting percentage (.131), 26th in attacks per set (38.34), 27th in assists per set (13.38) and 27th in kills per set (14.06). Additionally, NM State currently leads the Western Athletic Conference in opponent hitting percentage, assists per set, kills per set and digs per set. 

Individually, Ariadnne Sierra averages 5.41 digs per set which ranks 21^st nationally and second in the league. Brielle Sterns ranks second in the conference with 1.03 blocks per set. Jordan Abalos (3.23) and Kassandra Tohm (3.12) are sixth and eighth, respectively, in the WAC in kills per set.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Following the Borderland Invitational, Tatyana Battle and Sierra were named to the all-tournament team. Battle hit .395 with 34 kills and only four errors over the weekend. Sierra posted 50 digs including her 1,000th career dig against Delaware State. These are the first all-tournament honors Battle and Sierra have earned this season.

DOUBLE DOWN

Briana Ainsworth is tied for third in the WAC with five double-doubles, so far, this season. The junior setter has posted double figures in digs and assists in over half of the Aggies matches and even had a streak of four-straight double-double matches.

LAST TIME OUT

NM State swept its competition at the Borderland Invitational and did not give up a set to Abilene Christian, Delaware State or Samford all weekend. In its last match against Samford, New Mexico State kept it close in the second set, but pulled out a 28-26 victory over the Bulldogs. Two-straight kills from Battle ended the set, giving the Aggies the edge.

KNOW YOUR FOE: ILLINOIS STATE

Illinois State enters the match with a 4-6 overall record. The Redbirds post 513 kills this season alongside 471 assists and 714 digs. Nationally, ISU ranks sixth in team attacks per set with 39.87 and 10th in digs per set with 18.31.

Stef Jankiewicz picked up Missouri Valley Freshman of the Week honors after posting an impressive performance at the Redbird Classic. The setter recorded a pair of double-doubles, tallying 56 assists and 10 digs against Seton Hall before going for 57 assists and a career-high 19 digs in a win over Cincinnati.

KNOW YOUR FOE: ARIZONA

Arizona comes into the tournament with a 4-2 record. The Wildcats rank ninth nationally in blocks per set (3.11) and 11^th in opponent hitting percentage (.130). UA averages 13.23 kills per set and 14.23 digs per set.

Kendra Dahlke leads the team with 57 kills this season. She averages 2.71 kills per set while also averaging 2.43 digs per set. Middle blocker Devyn Cross leads the team with five solo blocks and 22 block assists for a total of 27 blocks this season. She averages 1.42 blocks per set which ranks 34^th nationally.

KNOW YOUR FOE: WILLIAM & MARY

William & Mary comes to Tucson, Ariz., on a four match losing streak. The Tribe (2-8) has recorded 419 kills, 402 assist and 486 digs this season. W&M ranks sixth in the Colonial Athletic Association in team hitting percentage (.186).

Sydney Biniak has started all 10 games for the Tribe and leads the team with 150 kills. She posts a .267 hitting percentage and averages 4.29 kills per set. Julia Brown leads W&M with 25 total blocks this season and she averages 0.71 blocks per set.

COMING UP: BATTLE OF I-10

Following the Wildcat Classic, the Aggies return home to face the Battle of I-10 foe UTEP. NM State takes on the Miners on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. (MT).