RICHMOND, Ky. – The New Mexico State volleyball team hit .367 and dominated Western Illinois in three sets, 25-9, 25-15, 25-16, to wrap up the Colonel Challenge in Richmond, Ky., on Saturday morning. The Aggies did not drop a single set in three matches at the Colonel Challenge.
 
"Everyone got a chance to play a solid amount which this group needs," said head coach Mike Jordan. "We were supposed to do well in this tournament and we did. We're young in key spots and have room for growth. We see it, the players know it, now we just have to work."
 
NM State (6-3, 0-0 WAC) was firing on all cylinders early as it hit .500 with just two attack errors in the opening frame. The Leathernecks (1-8) never got comfortable in the set, recording just six kills on 29 swings. Shaney Lipscomb proved too much to handle as she opened the match with six kills.
 
WIU put up some fight in the second set, as the teams were tied at 11 early in the set. However, the Aggies caught fire and torched the Leathernecks with a 14-4 run to end the set. Defensively, NM State was everywhere, forcing 10 attack errors and allowing WIU to hit just -.029 in the frame.
 
With a 2-0 lead, the Aggies would not be denied, racing out to a 10-3 lead and not looking back on its way to a 25-16 win in the deciding set.
 
Victoria Barrett led the way for NM State hitting 11 kills on 23 swings to hit .348, a season high. Lipscomb continued her stellar start to the season with nine kills on .421 hitting. Cat Kelly was great on the block, finishing with four while Lia Mosher added three kills and hit .333 to extend her streak of matches hitting above .310 to 12. Freshman Sidney McIntosh saw her first action of the year and finished the day with four kills in her collegiate debut.

Cary Aigner-Swesey dished out 22 assists and Alana Embry added 14 as the Aggies hit 43 kills with just 10 errors to finish with a .367 hitting percentage.
 
NM State now readies for the Stetson Classic in DeLand, Fla., on Sept. 17 and 18. The Aggies open the tournament against USF on Friday, Sept. 17, at 9 a.m. (MT).