New Mexico State University Athletics

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State Volleyball returned to action in Las Cruces on Saturday afternoon, taking on Western Kentucky in the Aggies' conference opening series. The Aggies jumped out to a 2-0 advantage and pushed the Hilltoppers to the brink before WKU rallied to claim a five-set victory. 

Set-by-set: Western Kentucky def. NM State 3-2 (19-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 20-18) 

FIRST SET 

The Aggies controlled much of the opening frame, racing out to a 15-9 lead behind strong play from Tess Fuqua, Mia Fox and Sadie Ross. NM State held WKU to a .143 hitting percentage in the set, taking a 25-19 victory. 

SECOND SET 

NM State carried its momentum into the second stanza, hitting .357 while limiting the Hilltoppers to an identical .143 mark. True freshman Sadie Ross delivered three kills and two aces in the frame, while Ashley Herman added three of her own. The Aggies led by as many as seven points before claiming another 25-19 set win. 

THIRD SET 

Western Kentucky responded in the third frame, but the Aggies remained within striking distance throughout, notching the contest at 17-17. After battling through nine ties and three lead changes, WKU pulled away late to take the set, 25-20. 

FOURTH SET 

The fourth set featured five ties and four lead changes as neither team created much separation early. Fuqua, Lightheart and Fox continued to pace the offense, but the Hilltoppers hit .382 in the frame and eventually earned a 25-21 victory to force a decisive fifth set. 

FIFTH SET 

The deciding frame lived up to the moment, featuring 10 ties and four lead changes. Fuqua recorded four kills in the set, while Fox added three and Kohli delivered a critical late kill to put NM State ahead 11-10. The Aggies fought off multiple match points and eventually tied the set at 18-18, but WKU narrowly escaped with a 20-18 victory to complete the comeback. 

NUMBERS OF NOTE 

• Saturday's match marked NM State's first five-set contest in Conference USA play this season. 

• Tess Fuqua led the Aggies with 13 kills, adding 23 digs for a double-double. 

• Mia Fox turned in one of her most efficient performances of the season, recording 11 kills while hitting.625. 

• Maggie Lightheart finished with 10 kills, 15 digs, three block assists and a pair of service aces. 

• Sadie Ross posted 10 kills, matching a new career high, while adding four service aces, the most by an Aggie in the match. 

• Paige Nelson dished out a team-high 30 assists and added 11 digs for a double-double. 

• Katrina Catalan contributed 15 assists, 10 digs and two block assists. 

• Makayla Martinez anchored the defense with 20 digs, her highest total in conference play this season. 

• The Aggies finished with 11 team blocks, their highest total in a conference match this season. 

• NM State held advantages in kills (56-55) and blocks (11-7). 

• The fifth set alone featured 10 ties and four lead changes, while the match finished with 26 ties and 11 lead changes overall. 

QUOTEABLES

Head Coach Mike Jordan, on the five-set battle:  

"We were in control for quite a while. We made some adjustments from last night and the team did a good job of executing them. [WKU] eventually adjusted as well, they're the champs for a reason. In crunch time, they were more aggressive and made more plays than we did. Lots of positives but I'm not a morale victory type of person. This team needs to start believing in themselves and finishing what they start." 

UP NEXT 

NM State will head to Huntsville, Texas, next week to continue Conference USA play against Sam Houston. The Aggies and Bearkats are scheduled to meet on Friday, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m. MT inside the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum as NM State looks to earn its first conference victory of the season. 

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.  

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