LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State volleyball team got revenge on Idaho winning in five sets (24-26, 25-19, 25-18, 23-15, 15-13) in front of 2,479 fans on Senior Night, Saturday, Nov. 7.
The Aggies had four players pick up double-digit kill figures with junior Kayleigh Giddens (Lubbock, Texas) posting a career-high 25 kills. On the defensive side, sophomore Kelsi Phillips (Scottsdale, Ariz.) was outstanding with a career-high 23 digs. Sophomore setter Jennah DeVries (Denver, Colo.) also set a career-high with 66 assists.
"I loved the way we passed the ball tonight," head coach Mike Jordan said. "When you are young like we are, you have a tendency to play safe instead of attacking. Idaho is a great team. I am really happy for our seniors to get a win like this tonight, especially because they are a great bunch and they set a great example for our young players."
The Aggies as a team posted a .193 hitting percentage while holding Idaho to a .147 hitting percentage while marking 11 total team blocks. Senior Erin Birmingham (Riverside, Mo.) led the way with two solo blocks and four block assists. She was also a threat on the offensive side of the net slamming down 10 kills in the middle.
The Aggies started the match with a 5-0 run but 10 Aggie attack errors and three NM State serving errors led the way for Idaho to pull off a 26-24 win. The Aggies were out .170 to .294 with Idaho putting up four blocks.
NM State bounced back in set two with a 25-19 win as the Aggies marked 15 kills. Junior Whitney Woods (Midland, Texas) led the way in the second set with eight kills while hitting .462. The Aggies posted a 9-0 run to take the a 24-17 lead before wrapping up the set 25-19.
The Aggies were just as dominate in set three winning 25-18 with Giddens, Birmingham and sophomore Kelsey Brennan (Monroe, Wash.) each marking four kills. Brennan finished the night with 13 kills while posting a .360 hitting percentage. There were nine ties and five lead changes in set three but NM State's .355 hitting percentage was too much for the Vandals to handle.
It looked like the Aggies would close out the match in set four but Idaho took advantage of 11 attack errors and two service errors made by the Aggies to win 25-23 with NM State marking three errors after the set was tied at 22.
The Aggies took an early 4-1 lead in set five before Idaho fought back to pull within one at 11-10. The Vandals took the lead at 13-12 on two consecutive Aggie errors but NM State fought through those errors on scored three straight points to win 15-13.
NM State heads back out on the road next week taking on Nevada and Fresno State at their places.
Courtesy: New Mexico State University
