Three Close Sets Go Hilltoppers’ Way-Aggies Get Second Chance Today

WKU grabs series opener in rematch of last year’s CUSA Championship match.

Source: NMSU Athletics
Story and Photo By Matthew Knope for NMSU: Courtesy

One of the nation’s most impressive streaks rolled along on Friday, as Western Kentucky Volleyball hosted NM State. The Aggies found themselves within striking distance each set, but failed to find answers during crucial stretches. 11 service errors and 18 attack errors were too much to overcome as the Hilltoppers prevailed in straight sets. NM State (14-11, 8-5) snapped a four-match winning streak, while WKU (20-6, 13-0) won its 16^th straight match.

NM State still sits tied for third in the Conference USA standings alongside Sam Houston (8-5), as the Bearkats fell in four sets to Liberty. Both squads have clinched a spot in the eight-team CUSA Championship with just five matches left in the regular season. Kennesaw State is also 8-5 after Friday’s action with a sweep over LA Tech.

Set-by-set: NM State loses 0-3 (23-25, 21-25, 21-25)

FIRST SET
After building a small lead, the Aggies allowed four straight points and were forced to call a timeout. For the remainder of the set, both teams combined for just one run of at least three straight points as the two sides exchanged six ties. The visiting squad produced the 3-0 run at an opportune time, tying the frame at 22 apiece to prompt a Hilltopper timeout. Over the next four points, WKU posted two kills and a set-clinching ace to win 25-23, despite hitting just .175.

SECOND SET
The home side hit even less efficiently in the second frame, landing just seven kills to its six attack errors. Despite their .031 mark, half of the Hilltoppers’ blocks came in the penultimate stanza (five of 10). WKU led 15-12 at the media timeout before Aleka Darko got involved on back-to-back blocks that punctuated a 3-0 game-tying run for the Crimson & White. The spurt produced one of nine ties in the set, but NM State would fail to pull as close the rest of the way. A timeout from Mike Jordan sparked another stretch of three straight points, but WKU responded by taking six of eight rallies down the stretch after a stoppage of its own. Izzy Van De Wiele’s third kill of the match put her side one game away from a sweep by a score of 25-21.

THIRD SET
Nicole Briggs opened up the final frame with a unique kill, landing a ball deep on WKU’s side off a deflection from Mari Sharp to Briggs’ blocking hands. Shortly after, true freshman Makayla Martinez notched aces on consecutive points as her side pulled ahead 5-0 and forced a timeout from Jena Otec. Unfortunately for the Aggies, WKU would tie up the affair at 6-6 in a flash on reigning CUSA Freshman of the Week Alivia Skidmore’s third kill in as many points. A series of ties ensued, as there were once again nine in the third set. Eventually, Mari Sharp poured in two of her five third-set kills on back-to-back points to pull ahead 16-14. Five points later, WKU began a 3-0 push that forced the final timeout from Aggie Head Coach Mike Jordan. One point would go his squad’s way, knotting the match at 19 all, but the effort fell just short. The Hilltoppers rattled off their eighth 3-0 run of the match, before quickly ending the affair with a kill and an ace to win 25-21.

NUMBERS OF NOTE
•    Makayla Martinez took the team lead by recording two aces in the loss. On the season, she now has 18 service aces.
•    Martinez surpassed Nellie Reese, who entered the match tied alongside her with 16. Reese was the only other Aggie to record an ace, doing so in the second set.
•    Mari Sharp led the way with 14 kills, recording her 11^th double-digit showing this season.
•    Darian Markham recorded 14 digs in the loss, placing the fifth-year Aggie 19 digs away from 2,000 in her illustrious career.
•    Kacia Brown hit .308 throughout the match, recording her 12^th contest with a mark of at least .300, including 10 in her last 14 outings.
•    WKU held a slim 21-19 margin in all three sets, but went on to capitalize each time.
•    WKU has now won 20 or more matches in 25 straight seasons, extending the nation’s longest streak.
•    The Hilltoppers have now won 87 straight regular-season CUSA matches.
•    WKU has not lost a league contest during the regular season in 2,205 days (Oct. 19, 2018).
•    NM State is now 0-6 this season when dropping the first two sets of a match.

FROM THE FLOOR
Head Coach Mike Jordan, on the loss: “We played well in stretches. We need our upperclassmen to serve the ball better tomorrow and play a cleaner game after each team gets to 20. WKU is very good and they’re tough at home. Hopefully, we can be a little better tomorrow.”

UP NEXT
The series finale will be held tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 2 from E.A. Diddle Arena. The action will commence at 11:00 AM MT (Noon CT) as the Aggies attempt to snap the Hilltoppers’ 87-match streak. Part two of the weekend stint will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via nmstatestats.com.

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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Levi Gwaltney

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