LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The veterans shined for New Mexico State head women's volleyball coach Mike Jordan Saturday afternoon in the Crimson & White scrimmage at the Pan American Center as Team Crimson took the match 3-1.
 
Action started with most of the returners playing on the Crimson side before players started getting shuffled in the third and fourth sets. Ruidoso, N.M., native Lia Mosher led the way for Team Crimson in the first set converting most of her kill opportunities. Julianna Salanoa and redshirt freshman Savannah Davison also played well for Team Crimson while Briana Ainsworth directed traffic.
 
Team White, comprised of mostly new faces for NM State struggled in the first set, falling 25-16, before finding their groove and limited their unforced errors in the second set to win 25-17.
 
Transfer Ashley Anselmo as well as Lindsay Blakey and Krysten Garrison stood out during the scrimmage on Team White before transitioning to Team Crimson for the final set.
 
As a team, the Aggies looked to have more depth on the outside with a better feel on the attack. Mosher, the team's leading returner in hit percentage (.288) with a minimum of 300 attacks, could arguably be in mid-season form while Tatyana Battle returns as the team's leader in kills (324) from last season.  The two combined with Megan Hart and Brigette Lowe as well as the additions of Anselmo, Blakey and Davison from injury will give NM State a lot of options.
 
Defensively, the Aggies will have to replace the ever-reliant Ariadnne Sierra in the libero position but the staff will have a good mix of players to choose from or even rotate.
 
The fourth set saw a handful of the new faces play on Team Crimson that would eventually get in sync with Ainsworth to break a back-and-forth rally to clinch the match.
New Mexico State kicks open the season on the road in Tempe, Ariz., at the Sun Devil Volleyball Classic (Aug. 24-25). First serve against the Pacific Tigers is scheduled for 3 p.m. (MT) followed by host Arizona State at 8 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network Live-Stream before finishing things up against UT Arlington on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 11 a.m. The Aggies home-opener is set for Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. against Grambling State.