The loss dropped NM State to 7-9 overall and 0-3 in Conference USA play, while Sam Houston improved to 12-4 and remained unbeaten in conference play at 3-0.
By Levi Gwaltney for Las Cruces Digest
Source: Sam Houston Athletics, NMSU Athletics
Cover Photo: Courtesy Sam Houston Athletics
NM State’s first Conference USA road match of the season ended in a three-set loss Friday night as Sam Houston defeated the Aggies 25-19, 25-16, 27-25 in Huntsville, Texas.
The loss dropped NM State to 7-9 overall and 0-3 in Conference USA play, while Sam Houston improved to 12-4 and remained unbeaten in conference play at 3-0.
The Aggies entered the weekend among the nation’s leaders in total kills and assists, but struggled to establish that offense at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. NM State finished with 28 kills and 23 attack errors on 123 attempts for a .041 hitting percentage.
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Sam Houston recorded 36 kills and hit .127 for the match.
The Bearkats established an early advantage with a 25-19 win in the opening set. NM State managed seven kills against five errors in the frame, while Sam Houston put down 14 kills.
The gap widened in the second. The Aggies committed eight attack errors while recording nine kills, and Sam Houston took the set 25-16 to move within one set of the sweep.
NM State mounted its strongest challenge of the night in the third.
The Aggies recorded a match-high 12 kills in the set and stayed with the Bearkats into extra points before Sam Houston finished the match with a 27-25 victory.
Ashley Herman and Kate Sinclair led NM State with six kills apiece, while Maggie Lightheart finished with five. Lightheart and Katrina Catalan recorded the Aggies’ two service aces.
Makayla Martinez continued her consistent work in the back row, leading NM State with 16 digs. Martinez entered Friday having recorded double-digit digs in 14 of the Aggies’ first 15 matches this season.
Paige Nelson led NM State with 12 assists and added seven digs, while Catalan recorded 10 assists. Mia Fox and Sadie Ross each participated in three blocks.
For Sam Houston, Bella Wood led the offense with 10 kills and added 11 digs for a double-double. Chloe Monson recorded eight kills and a match-high 17 digs, while Lauren Pyle led the Bearkats with 16 assists.
The loss also ended NM State’s recent run of success against Sam Houston. The Aggies had swept the teams’ two meetings at the Pan American Center last season, winning both matches 3-1, and entered Friday leading the all-time series 9-3.
Friday’s result was NM State’s third consecutive conference loss after the Aggies opened CUSA play with a pair of defeats against Western Kentucky at home last weekend. NM State pushed the second of those matches to five sets before falling 20-18 in the deciding frame.
The Aggies won’t have to wait long for another opportunity against the Bearkats.
NM State and Sam Houston return to Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum Saturday at noon Mountain Time to complete the two-match series. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
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