LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State volleyball team is set to play three matches at the Springhill Suites Invitational with two matches at home and one match in El Paso. The Aggies open the tournament against Northwestern on Friday, Sept. 3, at 10 a.m. (MT) followed by a rematch with Arizona later that day at 7 p.m. NM State wraps up the tournament with the Battle of I-10 in El Paso on Sunday, Sept. 5, at 1 p.m.
 
Fans are required to wear masks while inside the Pan American Center.
 
WHERE TO WATCH
 Both Aggie matches on Friday can be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network. Fans will have to make a free account to access the stream. Fans can catch the Battle of I-10 on Sunday here.

LISTEN UP
Both Aggie home matches are set to sir live on 91.5FM KRUX with Adam Young on the call. Audio can also be streamed on TuneIn.

SEASON TICKET PICK UP
Aggie fans who have not picked up their season ticket gift can pick up their miniature helmet at the Arizona match and receive a free ticket to the match.
 
NM STATE NOTES
• This is the first Aggie home game with fans since Nov. 16, 2019, a 3-1 win over Kansas City in the regular season finale.
 
• The Aggies have won 12-straight in the Pan Am.
 
• AVCA All-Region middle Lia Mosher picked up where she left off as one of the most efficient hitters in the country. Through three matches, Mosher has 17 kills on 27 swings with just a single error for a hitting percentage of .593.
 
• Shaney Lipscomb showed out in a come-from-behind win over UC San Diego on Aug. 27. The 6-2 senior hit a career-high 17 kills on an efficient .552 hitting percentage.
 
• Sophomore outside hitter Mari Sharp posted a career high eight kills and .389 hitting percentage in a win over Marist on Aug. 28.
 
• Libero Darian Markham was all over the place against UCSD, racking up a career high 22 digs.
 
• Victoria Barrett was stellar on both sides of the ball last weekend, recording a double-double in both Aggie wins. The reigning WAC Freshman of the Year had 12 kills and 23 digs against UCSD and 10 kills and 11 digs against Marist.
 
• NM State is looking for its first Power 5 win since a sweep of Auburn on Aug. 30, 2019.
 
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
• Northwestern finished with a 4-6 record in the loaded Big 10 a season ago. However, the Wildcats did not play Wisconsin or Nebraska.
 
• The Wildcats boast a 6-3 lefty setter who isn't afraid to get in on the scoring action. Alexa Rousseau averages 2.0 kills per set to go along with 9.11 kills per set.
 
• Northwestern's attack is led by First Team Big 10 honoree Temi Thomas-Ailara and redshirt junior Hanna Lesiak. Thomas-Ailara averages 3.44 kills per set while Lesiak averages 3.56.
 
A LOOK AT ARIZONA
• Arizona is currently 3-0 and has not dropped a set this season, capturing all three matches at the Cactus Classic in straight sets.
 
• Coming off a Pac 12 Freshman of the Year award, Sofia Maldonado Diaz has shown out this season. The Wildcats' outside is averaging 2.44 kills and 1.00 aces per set.
 
SCOUTING UTEP
• UTEP head coach, and former NM State assistant, Ben Wallis returns to the Pan American Center with his squad off to its best start during his tenure. The Miners are 3-0 after one weekend of action.
 
• The Miners were picked to finish second in the C-USA West Division while Serena Patterson was named to the Preseason All-C-USA team.
 
UP NEXT
NM State hits the road for the Colonel Challenge, hosted by Eastern Kentucky, on Sept. 10 and 11 in Richmond, Ky.