Volleyball: Aggies Sweep Pacific to Close Out Borderland Classic

NM State finishes 2-1 over the weekend, heads east for Bradley Invitational next week.

Source: NMSU Athletics
By Izzy Palmisano
Photos By Rodney Hunter for NMSU: Courtesy

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State Volleyball returned for their third and final game of the Borderland Classic on Saturday night, hosting Pacific inside the Pan American Center. The Aggies hit .340 as a team and limited the Tigers to a .102 hitting percentage while securing their sixth win of the season, following a straight-set sweep. 

FIRST SET 

NM State opened Saturday night facing an early 7-3 deficit against the visiting Tigers, however, the Aggies rallied for a 15-5 run of their own to seize control of the opening frame, eventually claiming a 25-20. Maggie Lightheart tallied five kills in the set, while Ashley Herman added four kills on six swings. 

“It felt great. After I got an ace, the whole team was so happy, and I think that speaks to how together we are as a team. It was amazing and truly felt great.”

~Setter Mia Mendoza

SECOND SET 

NM State turned in one of its most dominant sets of the season in the second stanza. The Aggies hit .394 while limiting Pacific to a .000 attack percentage with six attack errors. Tied at 2-2, the Crimson & White used a 23-9 run the rest of the game, taking a 25-11 set victory. Maggie Lightheart recorded six kills in the frame, while Mia Mendoza’s set-sealing ace served as the first point of her collegiate career. 

“I’m really happy for some of our [young] players that got in, they worked really hard. For us to be able to rest Tess, and come out with a sweep, we love that.”

~Head Coach Mike Jordan

THIRD SET 

The Aggies continued to roll in the final frame, producing their most efficient attacking set of the night with an impressive .517 hitting percentage. Jacqueline Corcoran caught fire with six kills in the set – finishing with a new career high of eight – while Jaelynn Kohli added four kills and Katrina Catalan served up a pair of aces. NM State closed the match on a 12-5 run and secured the sweep with a Jaelynn Kohli block. 

“…it just shows that the hard work that we were doing during our games – leaning on each other and really pushing through, especially like tough sets or tough games – It feels really good, and I hope we continue to end weekends like that.” 

~Outside Hitter Maggie Lightheart

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BY THE NUMBERS 

1. NM State improved to 6-4 on the season and reignited its winning streak. 
2. The Aggies completed the Borderland Classic with a 2-1 record, earning victories over UC San Diego and Pacific. 
3. Maggie Lightheart led the Aggies with a season-high 14 kills, while also contributing nine digs and one service ace. 
4. Ashley Herman continued her strong stretch, recording seven kills while hitting a career-best .700. 
5. Jacqueline Corcoran finished with a career-high eight kills while posting a career-best .444 hitting percentage. Her six kills in an error-free third set also surpassed her previous career high of five kills in a match. 
6. Mia Fox added five kills, four blocks and a .444 hitting percentage. 
7. Katrina Catalan and Paige Nelson combined for 44 assists, while Catalan added two service aces. 
8. Makayla Martinez anchored the back row with 13 digs, marking her ninth double-digit dig tally in NM State’s first 10 matches of the season. 
9. NM State hit .340 as a team while holding Pacific to a .102 hitting percentage. 
10. The Aggies posted a match-best .517 hitting percentage in the third set. 

UP NEXT 

The Aggies will head to Peoria, Ill., next weekend to compete in the Bradley Invitational. NM State opens tournament play on Friday, Sept. 18, against Lindenwood at 9 a.m. MT before returning to the court later that evening to face host Bradley at 6 p.m. MT inside Renaissance Coliseum. The Bradley match will be streamed live on ESPN+, with live stats available at nmstatesports.com/stats. 

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.