Box Score DAVIDSON, N.C. – With both sides entering the contest with perfect records on the weekend, the Aggies (5-1, 0-0 WAC) flexed their muscles and knocked off host Davidson (4-2, 0-0 A-10) on the final day of the Wildcat Classic.

"This was our best match of the year," Head Coach Mike Jordan stated. "We attacked it well and passed it decently. Our block took too long to get going but once it did, it helped. That's a good veteran skilled Davidson team that already has a Power Five win. Beating them at home was not going to be easy. I'm proud of today's effort."
 
The match was very tightly contested as the Aggies outscored the Wildcats by just four points even after taking a two-set lead. The play of the Aggies' setters and front line proved to be the difference as NM State topped Davidson in kills (67-59) and assists (63-55) in the match.
 
Individually, the Aggies were led by a team-high 15 kills from Ryleigh Whitekettle while Katie Birtcil and Molly Johnson each contributed 13 kills themselves. Johnson was also a defensive force as she paced the Aggies with four blocks.
 
Just one day after posting a career-best mark of 25 assists, Fay continued her hot weekend as she finished the match with 33 assists. Meanwhile, Darian Markham served as the foundation of the Aggies' back row – finishing with 25 digs.
 
SET ONE
Michigan State transfer Molly Johnson was immediately physically imposing as she recorded kills on each of the Aggies' first three points to give her squad an early 3-2 lead.
 
A couple of early kills from Aggie veteran Lia Mosher gave NM State an 11-9 advantage before back-to-back terminations off the hands of Birtcil put the Aggies out front 14-12.
 
After allowing a Wildcat point, the Aggies claimed four of the next five points to take a four-point lead (18-14). Although, Davidson was able to quickly erase this deficit thanks to a 4-0 run.
 
Down the stretch of the first set, the Aggies claimed five of the final seven points as both Mosher and Birtcil collected two kills to give the Aggies a 25-23 set victory.
 
Additionally, Mia Peterson earned a spot in the starting lineup and joined Birtcil, Johnson and Mosher as one of four Aggies to post at least three kills in the first set.
 
SET TWO
Just as the first set finished, the second set was almost entirely a back-and-forth affair as neither unit was able to claim more than a two-point advantage through the first 42 combined points.
 
A pair of Birtcil kills among a 4-2 Aggie run in the early goings of the set was able to flip a two-point deficit into a 6-4 lead.
 
The host Wildcats were then able to put together a 5-1 run to regain a 9-7 lead before a combo block from Snow and Johnson capped off a streak in which the Aggies scored three unanswered points.
 
Later, the two teams found themselves tied at 19 points until Johnson, Birtcil and Mosher tallied one kill each and Fay picked up a service ace to put NM State ahead 23-20.
 
Just as it looked as if the Aggies were in control, Davidson put together a three-point run to re-tie the second set at 23.
 
The ensuing two points would then lock up the 25-23 set win for the Aggies as Whitekettle recorded a kill just before a Birtcil ace ended the set.
 
SET THREE
After two razor-close opening sets, both teams knew they would need to hang tough in a crucial third set.
 
After a start of the set that was not up to the expectations of Coach Jordan, the Aggies erased a 3-0 deficit to take their first set lead when Mosher put away a kill that put the Aggies ahead 7-6.
 
The following seven points would include runs by both the Aggies and Wildcats. Davidson strung together four-straight points to take a 10-7 lead before NM State went on a three-point run that was highlighted by a solo block from Peterson to bring the score back to even.
 
Following Davidson being able to take a three-point lead, the Aggies won seven of the next nine points to burst ahead 19-17. During the run, Birtcil recorded a pair of kills while Mosher added a kill and a solo block.
 
Eventually, Davidson would claim a 24-22 lead just before the Aggies stacked together three consecutive points to lead 25-24 following a Wildcat net violation.
 
However, Davidson would score five of the final seven points to pick up a 29-27 set win.
 
SET FOUR
With two set wins still in hand, the Aggies entered the fourth set knowing they were still in the driver's seat. However, after how tight the first three sets were, the Aggies also knew the match could go either way if they let it get to a fifth set.
 
Once again, each point was a battle as the two programs split the first 16 points to remain deadlocked at eight in the early portion of the set.
 
After allowing a Wildcat kill, NM State proceeded to score the next nine points to take a 17-9 lead. The spurt included three kills by outside hitter Whitekettle and a pair of blocks credited to Mosher.
 
From there, the Wildcats would get no closer than five points while back-to-back kills from Whitekettle an Birtcil ultimately gave the Aggies a 25-19 set win to remain undefeated on the weekend.
 
MATCH NOTABLES

• Darian Markham extended her streak of matches with 10 or more digs to 20 matches as she finished with a season-high 25 digs.
• Rylee Fay recorded a new career-high of 33 assists to exceed her previous mark of 20 from last season when she was playing with Missouri State.
• Fellow setter, Bianca Perez also posted a new career-high in assists – finishing with 25 on the day.
• Molly Johnson posted a season-best mark of four blocks while also tallying her third double-digit kill effort of the season.
• Lia Mosher finished with a season-high 12 kills in conjunction with an impressive .550 hitting percentage.
• Katie Birtcil reached double-digit kill territory for the second time on the weekend as she tabbed 13 kills against the Wildcats.
• Ryleigh Whitekettle notched a career-high 15 kills while also managing a stellar .464 hitting percentage.
• As a team, the Aggies posted 63 total assists which is more than the Aggies recorded in all but one match last season (66 vs. California Baptist, 10/2/21)
• Additionally, the Aggies matched their season-high kill total for a four-set match during the fall 2021 season with 67 today.
• By hitting a combined .336, the Aggies posted their best single-match offensive efficiency numbers this season.
• On the weekend, a trio of Aggies earned Wildcat Classic All-Tournament Team honors. Markham was named the MVP of the classic as she compiled 49 digs and averaged 4.45 digs per set while maintaining a reception percentage of .932 across 11 sets.
• Mosher also earned All-Tournament laurels after she posted 2.27 kills per set while hitting at a .615 clip and turning in 1.27 blocks per set.
• Johnson was the final Aggie to be named to the All-Tournament team as she finished the weekend averaging 2.55 kills per set on .344 hitting while adding 0.82 blocks per set.

UP NEXT
The Aggies will now return home for their first regular season contests in the Pan American Center this season as they host UC Santa Barbara on Friday and Saturday. Friday's meeting between the Aggies and Gauchos will begin at 5 p.m. while Saturday's tilt is set to get underway at 11 a.m.

Fans looking to attend the game can purchase tickets here. Meanwhile, fans unable to make the trip to Las Cruces can watch both matches on WACInternational.tv. While the league's streaming service is free to any and all fans, those looking to watch must create a free account. Lastly, fans can also follow along via live stats here.

For complete coverage of NM State volleyball, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateVBall), Instagram (@NMStateVBall) and like us on Facebook (NM State Volleyball). You can also follow along with Aggie volleyball via NMStateSports.com.