HUNTSVILLE, Texas – NM State Volleyball picked up a huge road win Saturday afternoon against Sam Houston in what was an exciting five-set thriller that saw the Aggies win the last two sets to secure the much needed victory.
It was a game of highs as three players set new season and career highs and the team set a new season high in kills (68) and assists (65).
The Bearcats took the opening set 25-21, but couldn't capitalize in the second set, falling to the Aggies 25-23. The two teams split the next two sets as well setting up a do-or-die fifth set. Ultimately, it was the Aggies that came down with the win improving their record to 10-6 overall and 3-2 in the WAC.
SET ONE
After making the trip out east to Huntsville, the Aggies got off to a sluggish start as Sam Houston opened on a 3-0 run before a Ryleigh Whitekettle attack found the floor for the Aggies' first point of the match.
Down six points, the combination of Molly Johnson and Lia Mosher rejected an attack from the Bearkats' middle blocker to set the score at 10-5 in favor of the home side.
Sam Houston would eventually extend their lead back to six (23-17) before a late three-point Aggie run capped off by a Jayde Shelton kill would draw the Aggies to within three. However, the Bearkats would record two of the next three points to take the 25-21 set one win.
SET TWO
Following the set-one loss, the Aggies emerged from a Mike-Jordan-led huddle with plenty of energy as they jumped out to an early 4-1 lead, including a pair of kills from Molly Johnson.
Sam Houston then found itself in need of a timeout after back-to-back kills off the hand of Mia Peterson gave the Aggies an 8-4 advantage. The timeout did prove to be helpful as Sam Houston then scored seven of the ensuing eight points to take an 11-9 lead
Later, a kill from Katie Birtcil tied the set at 18 while the teams then traded the next four points to remain even at 20.
The Aggies then found themselves down 23-21 when the Aggies were awarded a crucial and controversial point as the Bearkats challenged a Mia Peterson attack but were unsuccessful.
NM State then scored the next three points to steal the set, 25-23, and even the match.
SET THREE
NM State fell behind early on in the third as Sam Houston led 7-4 before a 4-0 Aggie run highlighted by a combo block from Birctil and Whitekettle gave the Aggies an 8-7 lead.
Later, Rylee Fay's second ace of the match would cap off a 4-1 NM State run to put the Aggies out front by one point (12-11). Sam Houston would then respond with a 7-1 run of its own to take an 18-13 lead and force an NM State timeout.
Eventually, the Aggies would creep back to within two points (22-20) following a Bearkat ball-handling error that capped off a 3-0 NM State run. However, Sam Houston would then score three of the next five points to take a 25-22 set win.
SET FOUR
Similar to the second set, the Aggies jumped out to an early lead as they scored four of the first five points in the set.
Later, a nifty Molly Johnson tip kill to the opposite front court would put the Aggies ahead 8-3 after a 3-0 run. The Aggies then remained dominant in the fourth set as a block from Johnson and Mosher put the Aggies up 16-8.
Four straight points by the Aggies put them up 24-14 after a pair of kills from Ryleigh Whitekettle and Katie Birtcil and a few errors from Bearcats end. Ultimately, an Attack error by Alyssa Fielder would cap off the set, sending the match into a fifth and final set.
SET FIVE
Carrying the momentum from the fourth set, Bircil and Whitekettle started off the fifth set with a block, which sparked a 3-0 run by the Aggies.
Moving later into the set, Rilen Garcia continued to stay active, assisting Katie Birtcil for another kill, then following that with a perfectly placed dump and score to make it 10-4.
Darian Markham combined with Molly Johnson for the match winning kill finishing the set by a score of 15-9.
MATCH NOTABLES
- Molly Johnson set new career highs in both kills (17) and digs (21).
- Katie Birtcil commanded the floor once again adding her third 20-plus kill outing of the season
- Rilen Garcia dished out 27 assists today marking a new career-high.
- Lia Mosher also set a season-high of her own with 8 blocks in the match – the most by any Aggie this season.
- Surprisingly, this is the Aggies first 5-set match of the season and first win in a 5-setter since Oct. 7, 2021 against Chicago State.
- The team recorded a new season-high 68 combined kills and a season-high 65 combined assists as a team.
UP NEXT
The Aggies continue their road trip Monday with another Texas showdown in Edinburg to take on UTRGV. The team will be back at home two days later when they host Chicago State before hitting the road for another pair of games.
