LAS CRUCES, N.M. – For the first time in 287 days, NM State Volleyball will welcome an opponent into the Pan American Center. The Aggies are set to host Lubbock Christian on Saturday in the lone exhibition of their season. The Crimson & White eye one final opportunity to prepare for the regular-season opener next weekend at the UC San Diego Invitational. 
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Who: Lubbock Christian (0-0, 0-0 LSC) at NM State (0-0, 0-0 CUSA)
Where: Pan American Center – Las Cruces, N.M.
When: Saturday, Aug. 23 (12:00 PM MT)
Live Stream: N/A
Live Statistics: nmstatestats.com
All-Time Record vs. LCU: 1-0
Last Meeting: NM State 2 vs. Lubbock Christian 0 – Sept. 5, 1980
 
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
In their first two years in Conference USA, the Aggies have advanced to the CUSA Championship Match. Last year, second-seeded UTEP hosted the tournament, but the Aggies took a classic five-set Battle of I-10 in the semifinal round. With the duo of title match appearances, NM State has immediately proven to be a force in the league.
 
This fall, Head Coach Mike Jordan has his sights set on returning to the championship and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. Following a second-place finish in the 2023 regular season and a third-place mark last year, NM State earned the fifth-most points in the CUSA Preseason Coaches' Poll earlier this week.
 
PERSONNEL GROWTH
The 2025 roster will stand at an average of 6-foot-0, nearly an entire inch above the final 2024 edition across the board. This fall's squad boasts six Aggies of at least six feet tall that were not active on the 2024 club, including four newcomers. Freshman Jaelynn Kohli and transfer Ezgi Duzgezen each stand at 6-foot-3 ahead of their first year with the program. Kate Sinclair (6-foot-4) and Zoe Ziegler (6-foot-6) would each have been the tallest on last year's squad, with the latter coming in as the tallest on record in program history record. Peyton Castillo and Tess Fuquawere both inactive in 2024 as they recovered from injury. 
 
CAN'T GET RID OF 'EM
Over the offseason, several familiar faces returned to the Aggie staff. Twenty-eighth year Head Coach Mike Jordan brought back longtime assistant Chris Hertel after a season apart. Chelsea Rose, a member of the 2010 Aggie squad and former director of player development, also reclaimed a spot on the bench.
 
ENDLESS OPTIONS
With 20 student-athletes, the Aggies boast the largest roster in the conference for the second straight season. Additionally, six setters give the Crimson & White the most in CUSA once again. No other league program enters the season with more than four. 
 
LOCAL PRODUCTS
Seven Aggies hail from the Land of Enchantment, including five from Las Cruces. Rilen Garcia, Maggie Lightheart, Tess Fuqua, Bella Castro, Jazlyn Vasquez, Mia Mendoza and Makayla Martinez all call the Land of Enchantment home. Jaelynn Kohli also recently graduated from Eastlake High School in El Paso, Texas. 
 
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