LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State volleyball cohosts the Borderland Invitational with UTEP beginning on Friday, Sept. 8, with matches against Abilene Christian at 2 p.m. (MT) and Delaware State at 7 p.m. The Aggies close out the tournament with a match against Samford on Saturday with first serve set for 7 p.m.

CATCH ALL THE ACTION

Fans can stream NM State's matches against Abilene Christian and Delaware State for free on the WAC Digital Network or listen live on KRUX 91.5. New Mexico State's match against Samford can be viewed live on FOX Sports Southwest PLUS and ESPN3 (WatchESPN app). The match will air on tape delay on FOX College Sports Pacific and FOX Sports Arizona.

RIVETING RANKINGS

Nationally, NM State ranks ninth in digs per set as the team with an 18.87 average. The Aggies also rank 12th in team attacks per set (39.57) and 30th in opponents hitting percentage (.141) and total digs (434).

Among teams in the Western Athletic Conference, NM State ranks first in digs per set, assists per set (296) and kills per set (13.61). Ariadnne Sierra is second in the league in digs per set with an average of 5.35. Brielle Sterns ranks fifth in the conference with 1.04 blocks per set. Jordan Abalos posts 3.22 kills per set which ranks fifth in the WAC.

FRESH FACES

Three freshmen have been seeing consistent playing time this season. Sterns has started in every match for the Aggies and leads the team with 24 blocks. Natalie Mikels has played in every set this season and is second on the team in assists. Lia Mosher posts a .304 hitting percentage in her six matches played.

KEEPING IT 1,000

Sierra is nearing the 1,000 dig club as the senior libero has recorded 123 digs this season and 977 digs for her career. This season, she tied the program record for digs in a four-set match by posting 32 against Notre Dame. She also tallied the program record for digs in a match and digs in a five-set match with 36 digs in the Aggies win over UTEP which closed out the 2016 season.

LAST TIME OUT

New Mexico State defeated UNLV 3-1 to close out the NM State SpringHill Suites Invitational. Jordan Abalos led the team with 16 kills and 25 digs. Ariadnne Sierra also recorded double-digit digs when she racked up 21 digs in the match. Tatyana Battle recorded 13 kills while Briana Ainsworth tallied a team-high 31 assists.

KNOW YOUR FOE: ABILENE CHRISTIAN

Abilene Christian comes into the match with a 1-6 record. The Wildcats are on a five-match losing streak and their most recent loss came at Texas Tech on Monday when the team fell in straight sets. ACU's lone win was at Wyoming, where the team defeated the Cowgirls 3-1.

Kendall Bosse enters the match as the primary setter for the Wildcats. She averages 9.21 assists per set and has tallied 221 assists this season. Jacey Smith leads the team with 70 kills in 24 sets played. She has also started in each ACU match this season.

KNOW YOUR FOE: DELAWARE STATE

Delaware State comes to the Borderland Invitational in search of its first win of the season. The Hornets are 0-6 and have yet to take a set from their opponents. DSU averages 11.28 digs per set and 7.50 kills per set.

NaKia Jones has started in every match for the Hornets this season. Jones is averaging 1.22 kills and is posts a .130 hitting average. Kiera Holtzclaw leads the team with 10 blocks and averages 0.56 blocks per set.

KNOW YOUR FOE: SAMFORD

Samford enters the tournament with a 2-4 record this season. The Bulldogs swept Southeastern Louisiana to open the season and the team's other win was a five-set thriller at the Loyola-Chicago Invite where they defeated Fairfield.

Krista Boesing leads the Bulldogs with 105 kills and a 4.38 kills per set average. Taylor Anderton has tallied 242 assists this season and averages 10.08 assists per set. Grace Tiesman posts a 2.71 digs per set average while also recording seven service aces this season.

COMING UP: TAKING ON TUCSON

Following the Borderland Invitational, the Aggies travel to Tucson, Ariz., for the Wildcat Classic. NM State takes on Illinois State, William and Mary and tournament host Arizona beginning with the Redbirds on Sept. 15 at 11 am (MT).