LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Exactly two months after wrapping up its 2022 season, NM State is beginning to bolster its lineup for the 2023 season.
Head Coach
Mike Jordan announced Monday that Middle Blocker Aleka Darko has signed a national letter of intent to join the Aggies this spring – transferring in from Ithaca College.
Aleka Darko | 6-0 | MB | The Woodlands, Texas | Tomball HS | Ithaca College
- Tallied 255 kills to pace Ithaca College in 2022 as she helped lead the Bombers to a Liberty League Tournament Championship and an appearance in the Division III NCAA Championship while putting together a 25-5 overall record and a perfect 8-0 record in conference play.
- Averaged 2.38 kills per set while hitting .281 and serving as the lone Bomber to start all 30 matches for Ithaca during her sophomore season.
- Tallied 9.75 kills per set and notched a .333 hitting percentage across the Bombers' four postseason matches as she led helped her squad reach the second round of the Division III NCAA Championship.
- Posted a career-high 18 kills in a five-set win over William Smith on Oct. 18. In total, Darko finished with double-digit kills in 12 of the Bombers' 30 matches last year.
- Darko is also an elite defender and was Ithaca's top blocker in 2022, tallying 99.0 total blocks for an average of 0.93 blocks per set to rank first in the Liberty League in both categories.
- As a freshman at Ithaca, Darko was one of only four Bombers to appear in all 30 matches and ranked among the top five on the team in total kills (4th - 127), total blocks (4th - 53) and blocks per set (4th - 0.59).
- A 2021 graduate of Tomball High School in Spring, Texas, Darko was a four-year letter winner for the volleyball program.
- She was named All-Region and an NCHVC All-American in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.
- Darko was also a two-time GHVCA All-Academic Team selection in both her junior and senior years while being named All-District First Team and All-District Blocker during her senior year where she also was a team captain.
- Aleka is the daughter of Dr. Vernon and Vanessa Darko and she has three siblings; Gabrielle, Vanessa and David.
Mike Jordan on adding Darko
"Aleka is an explosive athlete and a versatile attacker. We're looking forward to her joining us this spring.
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