NM State records 63 kills and hits .353 as the Aggies celebrate Senior Day with a four-set victory.
Source: NMSU Athletics
By Izzy Palmisano
Photos By Rodney Hunter for NMSU: Courtesy
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State Volleyball closed out its home schedule in memorable fashion on Saturday afternoon, defeating Missouri St. 3-1 inside the Pan American Center on Senior Day. The Aggies honored their senior class after the match and following one of their most complete performances of the season, recording 63 kills while hitting .353 as a team.
FIRST SET
NM State wasted little time setting the tone, turning an 8-8 score into a commanding advantage behind the attacking of Maggie Lightheart, Jaelynn Kohli and Mia Fox. The Aggies hit .412 in the frame and led by as many as 10 points before Ashley Herman’s kill secured a 25-16 victory.
SECOND SET
The Aggies continued to roll in the second stanza, jumping out to a 14-8 lead and never looking back. Ashley Herman tallied three kills while Kohli and Zoe Ziegler each added key points during the run. NM State forced Missouri State into a .081 hitting percentage and claimed a convincing 25-15 win.
“Good win on senior day, everyone contributed. We played better again on Saturday, we cut the attack errors in half from Friday. Tess Fuqua, Jaelynn Kohli and Ashley Herman were really good from a kill percentage standpoint.”
~Head Coach Mike Jordan
THIRD SET
Missouri State responded in the third frame, using a late push to edge the Aggies. Lightheart recorded five kills, while Tess Fuqua and Herman added key points as NM State battled back from a six-point deficit. The Aggies forced the score to 24-23 following a Paige Nelson service ace, but the Bears held on for a 25-23 victory.
FOURTH SET
NM State regrouped quickly in the fourth set and delivered its most efficient offensive performance of the day. Herman recorded six kills in the frame, while Fuqua, Fox and Kohli added timely points throughout. The Aggies hit .481, used a late run to create separation and closed out the match with a Herman kill for a 25-17 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Saturday’s victory came in NM State’s final home match of the season and Senior Day celebration.
- The Aggies improved to 14-13 overall and 7-7 in Conference USA play.
- Ashley Herman led all players with 15 kills while hitting .375.
- Maggie Lightheart recorded 14 kills and 11 digs for a double-double.
- Mia Fox turned in an efficient performance with seven kills on a. 700 hitting percentage.
- Zoe Ziegler finished with seven kills setting a new season high.
- Katrina Catalan tallied 26 assists, three service aces and seven digs.
- NM State totaled 63 kills, matching its highest kill output in Conference USA play this season.
- The Aggies finished with advantages in kills (63-50), digs (58-47) and blocks (10.0-4.0).
UP NEXT
NM State will finish out the regular season on the road, traveling to Miami, Fla., for a two-match Conference USA series against FIU. The series opener is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13, at 4 p.m. MT inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center as the Aggies continue their push toward the Conference USA Championship. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+, and 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.
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