TUCSON, Ariz. – After a season-opening sweep, the Aggies (1-1, 0-0 WAC) were unable to conquer Cactus Classic host Arizona (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12), losing in three sets to the Wildcats.
 
The Friday night meeting between the two southwest-based programs marked the ninth time in the seven years the Aggies and Wildcats have clashed. In the tilt, the Aggies were unable to consistently convert offensively in addition to giving up eight service aces to a talented Arizona squad.
 
"Arizona is too experienced and skilled for us right now," mentioned Coach Mike Jordan. "We have to improve our ball control skills and we need six players committed to ball control on defense on the floor at all times. We've got work to do on that end. We did have some really physical moments attacking and blocking, but ball control isn't a negotiable thing."
 
SET ONE
A pair of Aggie newcomers looked locked in early in the match as both Taylor Snow and Ryleigh Whitekettle recorded kills within the first five combined points. However, as was the case for much of the match, NM State was hindered by hitting errors to open their second contest of the day.
 
Later in the first set, Whitekettle picked up two more kills split by an Aggie error as the Wildcats led 16-9.
 
A Wildcat error followed by a service ace from Snow would then cut the lead to five points, but this would be the closest the Aggies would get for the remainder of the first set before falling 25-14.
 
SET TWO
After emerging from a Mike Jordan-led huddle, the Aggies brought energy to the first point in the second set as Tucson native Katie Birtcil was joined by Snow at the net to collect the combo block and take a 1-0 lead.
 
Unfortunately, this would be the only lead the Aggies would grasp in the second set. On the way to a 25-19 defeat in the set, the Aggies were led by two kills each from Birtcil and Ashley Herman.
 
Birtcil also chipped in a second block assist as she teamed up with senior Lia Mosher to turn away an Arizona attack. Mosher would also record two block assists in the set.
 
SET THREE
Trailing by two sets, the Aggies refused to lay down and battled with the Pac-12 power early in the set as a Birtcil kill would give the Aggies a 9-8 lead.
 
Towards the middle of the set, sophomores Mia Peterson and Sidney McIntosh would make their first appearances in the match. Both would provide contributions as Peterson finished the match with three kills on just five swings while McIntosh posted one kill and tallied a block assist.
 
Kills from Rylee Fay and Snow late would be the last offensive efforts from the Aggies as the Wildcats closed the match with a 25-19 win in the third set.
 
MATCH NOTABLES

• After playing in just one set and recording just three attacks in the season opener, 6-5 outside hitter Ryleigh Whitekettle paced the Aggies with eight kills in the match. This mark was also good for a tie with Arizona's Alayna Johnson for most in the match for either side.
• Darian Markham extended her double-digit dig streak to 16 matches dating back to last season.
• Taylor Snow added two more blocks to bring her very-early-season total to six blocks in her freshman campaign.

 
UP NEXT
The Aggies conclude their stay in Tucson and participation in the Cactus Classic with a 1:30 p.m. (MT) match versus LIU Brooklyn on Saturday, Aug. 27. The match will be streamed via FloSports Volleyball while fans can track stats on Arizona's StatBroadcast.
 
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