LAS CRUCES, N.M. - On the 19th day as members of Conference USA, NM State Volleyball has released their entire regular-season schedule, including matches both in and out of conference play.
The Aggies have finalized their much-anticipated move to CUSA, joining Jacksonville State, Liberty, and Sam Houston as new members. CUSA also welcomes back its five returning members: FIU, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, UTEP, and Western Kentucky.
Following the Crimson & White scrimmage (Aug. 12) and an exhibition against Western New Mexico (Aug. 19), Coach
Mike Jordan will enter his 26th regular season as head coach. Under Jordan's leadership, the Aggies will look to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.
The journey will begin away from home, with a trip to Santa Barbara, Calif., for the UCSB Tournament. Over that weekend, NM State will face UCSB, North Florida, then Denver, from Friday, Aug. 25 to Sunday, Aug. 27.
The Aggies will then return home for the NM State Tournament, which will be held from Friday, Sep. 1, to Sunday, Sep. 3. Arizona State, San Francisco, and UTEP will all call the Pan American Center home for the weekend. The Aggies will square up against San Francisco on Friday at 7 p.m., and ASU on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The next two weekends, NM State will be back on the road for tournaments. Illinois State will welcome the Aggies, along with Miami (OH) and Saint Louis. A doubleheader has been scheduled for Friday, Sep. 8, against Illinois State and Miami. The trip will conclude the following day with a mid-day match against Saint Louis.
The Aggies will stay on the road the next weekend, heading to Tucson for the University of Arizona Tournament. The Wildcats will host the Aggies, along with Long Beach State and Alabama State. NM State will play Alabama State and Arizona on a two-match Friday, Sep. 15. A match against Long Beach State the following day will close out the weekend, and all regular-season tournament play for the Aggies.
The Aggies will host their first matches in CUSA history against Middle Tennessee, playing two against the Blue Raiders on Friday, Sep. 22, and Saturday, Sep. 23. The Aggies have an all-time record of 5-1 against MTSU, with the most recent meeting coming in 2004.
NM State will travel to Ruston, La., for their next two matches against Louisiana Tech on Sep. 29 and Sep. 30. The format will be the same as the week prior, with one match against the Bulldogs on Friday, and one on Saturday.
For the first time as members of the same conference since 1981, the Aggies are set to host UTEP Volleyball. The Miners will travel north to the Pan American Center for a set of two matches. The mid-week matches will be held Tuesday, Oct. 3, and Wednesday, Oct. 4. The Aggies lead the all-time series with 65 wins, 25 losses, and 1 draw.
NM State will have a quick turnaround to Lynchburg, Va., to play two matches against Liberty on Saturday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 8. The lone previous match between the Flames and Aggies came in 2003, with the Aggies winning all three sets on the road.
Next, Western Kentucky will play two matches in Las Cruces, returning to the Friday-Saturday series format. On Oct. 13 and Oct. 14, the Aggies will look to improve on their 6-3 all-time record against the Hilltoppers.
One week later, the Aggies will then travel to take on fellow new CUSA member Jacksonville State in Alabama. One match will fall on Friday, Oct. 20, and one on Saturday, Oct. 21. The Aggies won the only prior matchup against the Gamecocks in a 3-set sweep in 1999.
NM State will return home for a non-conference match against Chicago State on Oct. 30. The Aggies are undefeated all-time against Chicago State with a 19-0 record.
The resumption of conference play will begin with two more home marches against Sam Houston, on Friday Nov. 3, and Saturday Nov. 4. These are the final home matches of the season.
FIU will host NM State for the final two matches of the regular season on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11. The furthest road-trip of the season will be to visit the Panthers in Miami, looking to improve on their 9-1 program record against FIU.
Following the season, the Aggies will travel to Lynchburg, Va., for the CUSA Tournament, which will be held from Nov. 17 through Nov. 19, as they compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
For complete coverage of NM State volleyball during the 2023 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Volleyball), Twitter (@NMStateVBall) and Instagram (@NMStatevball).
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