LAS CRUCES, N.M. - NM State opened up the doors of the Pan American Center for regular-season competition on Friday, ending a 314-day streak without action in Las Cruces. The Aggies played a doubleheader, welcoming Texas Southern and Abilene Christian. The home team played six sets and won them all, thanks in large part to stellar play from a multitude of upperclassmen. The Aggies (4-3) pulled back above .500 for the first time since being 1-0.

MATCH ONE vs. TEXAS SOUTHERN

Set-by-set: NM State wins 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-22)

FIRST SET

The weekend began well for the hosts as they pulled ahead 12-1 on a Starr Williams kill. A Darian Markham ace and a successful challenge from Head Coach Mike Jordan highlighted the run, giving the Aggies a lightning-fast double-digit point lead. 14 kills and no errors gave the home side a staggering .636 team hitting percentage in the first frame of the weekend, ultimately resulting in a 25-10 game one victory. 

SECOND SET

After making it through the first set with relative ease, set two began with the Aggies trailing Texas Southern 5-3 through the first eight points. Afterwards, a 5-2 run by the Crimson & White highlighted by a Nellie Reese ace put the home team ahead 10-7. After a sparkling first set from the front line, the Aggies followed up with a variety of attackers to close out the set on a 3-0 run, with Yasso Amin getting the set-clinching kill. 

Senior middle blocker Aleka Darko led the way with a trio of kills in the second set, one of six Aggies to record multiple kills in the set, and one of seven with a kill.

THIRD SET

In similar fashion to set one, the Aggies found themselves in an early deficit to the Tigers, trailing 6-2. Yasso Amin paved the way for an NM State rally, recording two kills and a block assist as part of a 5-0 run to tie the match 13-13. The two squads would continue to trade points until a 4-0 run by NM State gave the home team a comfortable 22-18 cushion. Starr Williams put away the deciding point with one of eight kills on the day for the redshirt junior.

MATCH TWO vs. ABILENE CHRISTIAN

Set-by-set: NM State wins 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 26-24)

FIRST SET

Similarly to the opening match, NM State quickly pulled ahead 6-2 on a Kacia Brown kill. Later in the frame, a Darian Markham ace gave the home side a 3-0 run and prompted a Wildcat timeout with a score of 18-10. After pulling ahead 22-13, NM State allowed a 4-0 run from ACU, but a 3-0 Aggie run was closed out by a Nellie Reese ace to seal set two.

SECOND SET

In set two, the Aggies and Wildcats went back and forth, with the home side pulling in front 8-6 early. ACU poured in a 4-0 run to take the lead, before seven ties and four lead changes defined the middle of the set. A Wildcat kill kept them within one (17-16), before Mike Jordan's squad rattled off eight straight points. Freshman defensive specialist Makayla Martinez manned the service line for the run, tallying an ace to bring her side to set point. Ashley Herman sent the match to its final frame with a kill to win 25-16.

THIRD SET

Another set led to another quick Aggie lead, before ACU answered with a 4-0 spurt to take a 7-6 lead. For the next 26 points, neither side held a lead of more than a point. The Aggies and Wildcats exchanged 14 ties and six lead changes in the final frame alone, setting up a thrilling finish to the four-match day in the Pan American Center. After ACU once again tied up the match at 24-24, Mari Sharp fittingly closed out the evening with consecutive kills, sweeping ACU. 

NUMBERS OF NOTE

• In the opening match, the Aggies posted a .396 hitting percentage, a season-best. In 2023, NM State eclipsed that mark just three times. 

• For the first time this season, Darian Markham did not pace the team in digs, as it was sophomore Maggie Lightheart who led the way with seven digs; tying her career high. 

• As a team, Texas Southern mustered a .113 hitting percentage, becoming the third Aggie opponent to be held below a hitting percentage of .200. In these games, the Aggies are 3-0. 

• Entering Friday, NM State had yet to play a three-set match. The Aggies are now 2-0 in such outings this season.

• Freshman middle blocker Mia Fox posted her first block solo against Texas Southern, giving her four total blocks through her first four games. 

• The Aggies posted two of their three best hitting percentages of the season on Friday, hitting .396 against TSU and .262 versus ACU.

• Conversely, the Aggies held their opponents to two of the three best marks all season, as the Tigers hit .113 and the Wildcats hit .142.

• For the day, Yasso Amin posted 22 kills and one error on 38 attempts, posting a whopping .553 percentage across the six sets and two wins.

• Nellie Reese's four aces pushed her to the front of the pack, now leading all Aggies with seven on the season.

FROM THE FLOOR

Head Coach Mike Jordan, on the wins: "I saw a lot of good, and I saw a lot of bad. I would like a little more gray area instead of the bad, but I think we were pretty efficient. We didn't make a lot of attack errors, with the exception of that last set against ACU. We've still got to block better and serve it a lot better. We're getting pretty good production from [Nicole] Briggs, and we'll need that tomorrow. [Arizona is] physical, they're a good team, they have experience and it's going to be a tough match."

Senior middle blocker Aleka Darko, on her performance against Texas Southern: "I think it was a good game, and we were ready to fight for sure. We were talking well in the locker room. It was good for us to get that win after last weekend, so I think it helped our confidence and I think we're playing better as a team overall."

Graduate outside hitter Yasso Amin, on what the day meant to her and the team: "I feel like today was just a step for us to prepare more for conference play. We had some frustration from last weekend, because I feel like we are a great team. We have tremendous talent. I think tomorrow is our strongest opponent this weekend, but I think we are an experienced team. The way we're playing is the right way, especially at home. Being at home is a different level, because of the fans that show up. I have never felt more comfortable and confident than playing for New Mexico State."

UP NEXT

Undefeated Arizona awaits the Crimson & White at 2:00 PM MST tomorrow. The Wildcats (8-0) have already won as many matches this season as they did in all of 2023, and NM State will look to produce their first loss. The Borderland Invitational finale will be streamed on ESPN+ and available to follow at nmstatestats.com

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