LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Home sweet home.
 
For the first time this season, the New Mexico State volleyball team is scheduled to host a pair of matches at the Pan American Center. The Aggies welcome Western Athletic Conference newcomer Tarleton on Monday, March 15, at 3 p.m. (MT) and Tuesday, March 16, at 12 p.m. No fans will be admitted.
 
Where to Watch
All of this week's Aggie volleyball action can be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network.
 
Follow Along
NM State fans can keep up with both of this week's matches with live stats by StatBroadcast.
 
Quick Hitters
• Head coach Mike Jordan won his 500^th match with a sweep of California Baptist on Feb. 22.    
 
• The Aggies have not played a match in the Pan American Center since Nov. 16, 2019.
 
• Nationally, the Aggies rank ninth in hitting percentage (.307), fourth with 14.93 kills per set and second in assists per set (13.93).  NM State also ranks 17^th in opponent hitting percentage (.125).
 
• As of March 14, three different Aggies rank in the WAC top-6 for hitting percentage. Lia Mosher leads the conference, hitting .407 while Shaney Lipscomb (.351) checks in at third and Katie Birtcil ranks sixth (.328). 
 
• Outside hitter Savannah Davison, the WAC Preseason Player of the Year, ranks fifth in the league with 3.34 kills per set.
 
• NM State set the school record for hitting percentage in a three-set match hitting .554 against Seattle U on March 3. Shaney Lipscomb hit 14 kills on 14 attempts to set the school record for hitting percentage in a three-set match.
 
• The Aggies lead the WAC in hitting percentage (.307), opponent hitting percentage (.125), assists (13.83) and kills (14.93).
 
Scouting the Texans
Tarleton is currently in the first year of its transition to Division I and holds a 10-9 overall record and a 6-6 record in WAC play. The Texans are coming off a split with Dixie State and a 3-1 loss to Texas Tech in Stephenville.
 
The Texans are led offensively by right side Lauren Kersey who has had a solid year for Tarleton as she currently leads the WAC with 228 total kills while ranking sixth with 3.26 kills per set. As a squad, Tarleton ranks fourth in the WAC with a .202 hitting percentage and fifth with a .199 opponent hitting percentage.
 
Last Time Out
The Aggies traveled to Orem, Utah, to take on UVU with a pair of matches on March 8 and 9. On March 9, the Aggies raced out to a 2-0 lead but were unable to finish as the Wolverines stormed back to snap NM State's 34-match WAC win streak with a 3-2 victory.
 
However, the Aggies cleaned it up in the second match and avenged the loss with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-16 sweep over UVU. NM State held Utah Valley  to .147 hitting while Savannah Davison (11), Victoria Barrett (10) and Shaney Lipscomb (10) all finished with double-digit kills.
 
Up Next
NM State heads to the Windy City to wrap up the regular season with two dates with Chicago State on Monday, March 22, and Tuesday, March 23. Both matches are set to stream live on the WAC Digital Network.