LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State volleyball takes on Western Athletic Conference opponents Chicago State and UMKC at the Pan American Center this weekend. The Aggies face the Cougars on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. (MT). NM State closes out the weekend against the Roos on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. Fans can watch both matches on the WAC Digital Network.
WHERE IN THE WAC
New Mexico State ranks first in the WAC in opponent hitting percentage (.140), assists per set (12.94), and kills per set (13.67). Ariadnne Sierra posts 5.27 digs per set which ranks second in the conference. She also ranks fourth in service aces per set (0.27). Brielle Sterns averages 1.00 blocks per set while Lia Mosher averages 0.89 for third and ninth in the league, respectively. Kassandra Tohm sits in eighth in the league with 3.06 kills per set while Briana Ainsworth posts 6.22 assists per set, which also ranks eighth.
Nationally, NM State is 12th in opponent hitting percentage, 19th in digs per set (17.43) and 28th in team attacks per set (37.94). The Aggies also rank tied for 47th in assists per set and 63rd in kills per set.
SENSATIONALÂ SIERRA
Sierra ranks eighth in the New Mexico State record books for career digs. She has tallied 1,123 digs, so far in her career as an Aggie. The senior libero tied the program record for digs in a four-set match earlier this season when she posted 32 against Notre Dame. She also broke the program record for digs in a match when she recorded 36 in New Mexico State's final match of the 2016 season.
LAST TIME OUT
NM State fell in five sets at UT Rio Grande Valley to open conference play. The Aggies were defeated by the Vaqueros 23-25, 25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 12-15 for their third five-set loss of the season. Sasha-Lee Thomas led New Mexico State with 18 kills while Tatyana Battle posted a double-double with 11 kills and 21 digs. Natalie Mikels and Ainsworth recorded 33 and 32 assists, respectively, which were new season bests for the setters.
KNOW YOUR FOE: CHICAGO STATE
Chicago State enters the match with a 10-8 overall record and a 1-1 record in conference play. The Cougars defeated Grand Canyon 3-1 but fell to CSU Bakersfield in four sets for the Cougars first 1-1 league record since becoming a member of the WAC.
Lauryn Dela Cruz of CSU leads the conference, averaging 4.71 kills per set. The junior also leads the league in points by totaling 296.5 so far this season. Out of the five WAC Player of the Week awards this season, Dela Cruz has won two. Lacee Adams leads the conference by posting 10.58 assist per set while Carmen Carvajal sits in second in the WAC with a 0.36 aces per set average.
KNOW YOUR FOE: UMKC
UMKC enters the weekend with a 5-10 record and a 1-1 record in league play. The Roos opened the conference season with a thrilling five-set win over Grand Canyon. UMKC most recently fell in straight sets to CSU Bakersfield.
Alicia Harrington leads the Roos with 144 kills this season. She is followed closely behind by Mykal Sadler, who averages 2.54 kills per set. Rhegan Spiegel posted 224 digs, so far, this year while Alli Schomers averages 6.91 assists per set for the Roos.
COMING UP: ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Following the match with UMKC, the Aggies travel to take on Seattle U and Utah Valley for their next set of conference matches. NM State faces the Redhawks on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. and the Wolverines on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.
