NMSU Volleyball Falls to No. 3 Hawai’i in WAC Championship

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The New Mexico State volleyball team fell to No. 3 Hawai’i 25-22, 25-18, 25-20 in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in the Orleans Arena, Wednesday, Nov. 23.

The Aggies finish the regular season Saturday Nov. 26. at 12pm (MT) in the Pan American Center. The Aggies fall to 23-9 on the year after going 10-4 during the WAC regular season.

Senior Jennah DeVries, freshman Meredith Hays, senior libero Kelsi Phillips were named to the WAC All-Tournament team after Hays tallied 40 kills in three matches. Phillips ended the tournament with 42 digs and DeVries had 95 assists to finish their WAC careers.

The Aggies dropped the first set 25-22 and kept it close throughout with nine ties. NM State got a service ace from senior Brynja Rodgers taking the score to 15 all. UH went on a 4-1 run to take a 19-6 lead. A kill by Hays and another by sophomore Stephanie Ziegler pulled the Aggies to within two points at 22-20 before UH closed it out.

NM State was down 8-2 but came back on a 6-0 run to tie the second set at 8-8 when Desiree Scott took advantage of an overpass. The Rainbow Wahine began to pass the ball well and took a 12-10 lead and eventually extended that lead to four points at 17-14. A strong solo block by Michelle Kuester pulled the Aggies to within three at 20-17 before NM State began to struggle with the serve-and-pass game. UH took set two 25-18.

UH took a 12-5 lead in the third set after a mid-set 6-1 run. The Aggies attempted to fight back with Ziegler marking a kill to take it to 17-11. Hawai’i was the first team to 20 however the Aggies tried to make a run with Brennan and Kuester combing for a block taking the score to 23-17. The Aggies fell 25-20 and finish out the season with a single match on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 12pm (MT) against Colorado State.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Pan Am ticket office at 646-1420. The first 250 fans will receive a Aggie keychain.

Source: NMSU Athletics