TUCSON, Ariz. – The New Mexico State volleyball team started its spring 2021 campaign with a five-set (23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 14-25, 25-19) exhibition win at Arizona on Saturday afternoon.
 
"We were a little nervous after not taking the court for so long, but I was pleased with what I saw for the most part," said head coach Mike Jordan. "I thought we did a good job ball-handling, which was a concern coming into this match, and attacking for the most part. Whenever you hit 13 more kills than a Pac-12 team, you have to feel pretty good about that. I'm glad we played a competitive match and were able to get five full sets in. Arizona is talented but young and inexperienced so it's important we keep this win in perspective going forward."
 
After dropping a close first set, the Aggies turned it on in the second and third sets winning the sets 25-18 and 25-16 respectively. However, the Wildcats bounced back with a 25-24 win in set number four to force a fifth and final set. NM State led most the of the way in fifth set and closed out the win with a 25-19 win in set five.
 
WAC preseason Player of the Year Savannah Davison led the way for NM State offensively with 17 kills on .209 hitting. With Cat Kelly out with a lingering injury and First-Team All-WAC middle Julianna Salanoa opting out of the season due to conflicts with nursing school, a number of Aggie newcomers stepped up in their absence
 
Shany Lipscomb, a junior transfer from Grossmont College hit .227 with 11 kills while Victoria Barrett, a freshman impressed in her first college action with 14 kills to go with a .258 hitting percentage. Preseason All-WAC honoree Lia Mosher recorded eight kills on a red-hot .538 hitting clip and Tucson native Katie Birtcil also added eight kills on 21 attempts.
 
Senior setter Natalie Mikels added 25 assists while Long Beach State transfer Carly Aigner-Swesey contributed 24. As a team, the Aggies hit .238 with 63 kills to 50 for Arizona.
 
"We would like to thank President Floros and the rest of administration for making it possible for us to compete this spring," Jordan added.
 
NM State now turns its attention to WAC play with a pair of "home" matches against league newcomer Dixie State on Jan. 25 and 26 in Tucson.