DAVIDSON, N.C. – On paper, it will go down as a three-set win. However, the sweep of Lindenwood was far from a cakewalk as two of the three sets required more than 25 Aggie points to secure the set victory.
 
"We blocked it well which was the difference," Head Coach Mike Jordan noted. "Half of our team served well the other half needs to do a lot better work at the line. We passed it poorly and it makes life hard on us. That's a skill that will take time. Defensively – missed assignments were a problem as well and that's not acceptable. We are physical and showed it at times."
 
Two of the Aggies' 18 blocks came among the final three points of the match as the Aggies (3-1, 0-0 WAC) defense out-blocked the Lions (2-2, 0-0 OVC) 18-2 while limiting them to a hitting percentage of just .157 on the day.
 
Offensively, the Aggies were led by junior outside hitter Katie Birtcil who notched 12 kills. Close behind her in the kill column was Molly Johnson who recorded 10 kills.
 
The Aggies also out-assisted the Lions 37-33 as the two-headed snake of Rylee Fay and Bianca Perez combined for 29 assists.
 
SET ONE
The opening set was about as comfortable as the Aggies got in their first match of the Wildcat Classic as kills from Taylor Snow and Jayde Shelton highlighted a 5-2 run to give the Aggies a 12-7 advantage.
 
Later on, kills from Ryleigh Whitekettle, Snow and Birtcil would come amid a 6-2 run to give the Aggies an 18-13 lead after Lindenwood cut the lead to just one point.
 
Three of the Aggies' final seven points would also come off the palm of Birtcil as she pushed her first-set kill total to five while giving the Aggies a 25-18 set victory. Also, NM State managed to limit Lindenwood to just .100 hitting in the first set.
 
SET TWO
The second set got off to a rocky start for the Crimson and White as they quickly fell behind 6-2 after Lindenwood tallied back-to-back aces – forcing Mike Jordan to call an early timeout.
 
After another point for the Lions, Birtcil recorded two-straight kills to pull the Aggies to within three (7-4). However, the ensuing three points would go to Lindenwood to leave the Aggies trailing by six.
 
With the scoreboard reading 18-11 in favor of Lindenwood, the Aggies would put together a 5-2 run that was bookended by kills from Birtcil and Johnson to put the score at 20-16.
 
Eventually, the Aggies would find themselves with their backs against the wall as they faced set point down 24-19.
 
Consecutive combo blocks from the duos of Mosher and Whitekettle in addition to Mosher and Sharp would give the Aggies life and bring the deficit back to three points.
 
Sharp then recorded a kill before Mosher tabbed a solo block to pull the Aggies to within just one point and force a Lindenwood timeout in an attempt to stop the comeback effort.
However, a Fay ace immediately out of the timeout knotted the set at 24 before a Lion error gave the Aggies their first lead in the set since the score sat at 2-1.
 
One last show of Lindenwood resistance tied the set at 25 before kills from Sharp and Mosher gave the Aggies a 27-25 set win.
 
SET THREE
The third set would also have a flair for the dramatic as the Aggies' three-point lead at 15-12 would be the largest gap between the two sides in the final set.
 
Early on, the Aggies were led by Whitekettle who compiled three kills and a pair of blocks amid the Aggies' first 11 points.
 
As mentioned, NM State took hold of a 15-12 advantage after Mosher and Johnson each turned Fay sets into kills.
 
Trailing 21-19, the Aggies' dominant front row duo of Mosher and Johnson proved to be ready for the moment as they combined for three-straight points – giving the Aggies a 22-21 lead.
 
The next five points would go back-and-forth to leave the set tied at 24 following a Mosher and Johnson combo block.
 
Finally, a kill from Johnson backed by a triple block from Sharp, Johnson and Snow gave the Aggies the 26-24 set win and third match win of the season.
 
MATCH NOTABLES

• Molly Johnson posted her second double-digit kill effort in a row after finishing with 15 against LIU on Aug. 27. Johnson also posted a season-high three block assists.
• Once again, Libero Darian Markham paced the Aggies in digs after notching 13 on her way to recording her 18^th straight match with 10-plus digs.
• Taylor Snow tallied a season-high three block assists while also matching her season-best kill total of four.
• Rylee Fay recorded a pair of aces against the Lions to extend her streak of matches with at least one service ace to four. The Missouri State transfer also leads the Aggies in this category with seven aces on the year.
• By way of finishing with 10 digs, freshman Bianca Perez reached a new season-high.
• Senior Lia Mosher controlled the net all match – finishing with a season-high seven total blocks, including a season-best three solo stuffs. She also tallied six kills on eight swings to post her best hitting percentage (.750) since she hit .889 against Marist on Aug. 28, 2021.
• Katie Birtcil finished with a match-high 12 kills to collect her second match with 10-plus kills this season.

UP NEXT
The Aggies return to the court this afternoon as they take on North Carolina A&T in their second match of three at the Wildcat Classic. Fans can follow along via this live stats link.
 
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