by By Jake Hudspeth
SEATTLE, Wash. – NM State managed to pull out a win in a five-set thriller against Seattle U on Wednesday night at Seattle Academy.
The Aggies leave Seattle with 3-2 victory over the Redhawks with a 21-25, 26-24, 16-25, 25-16, 15-11 decision.
“I feel very fortunate to come away with a win tonight,” head coach Mike Jordan said. “[Seattle U] kicked our butts for the better part of three sets, but we finally put together some good stretches and showed a lot of courage late.”
Both times these two schools have faced off this year the matches have gone to five sets, with the Aggies taking both 3-2.
“When [the Redhawks] are healthy, they are a very good team,” said Jordan.
The senior trio of Andrea Tauai, Bradley Nash, and All-America candidate Gwen Murphy set the pace for the Aggies in the match. Tauai, a native of Tauranga, New Zealand/Tauranga HS, led NM State with 14 kills. Nash, Navajo Nation, had 10 kills and six total blocks. Murphy, from Elfrida, Ariz./Valley Union HS, registered 12 kills and an astonishing .611 hitting percentage.
Senior Martina Samadan led Seattle U in the match. The Split, Croatia/Virginia Commonwealth native, led all scorers with 19 kills, six total blocks and a service ace.
In what was probably the hardest fought match of the conference slate, the Aggies came out of the gate swinging, going up 6-2 early in the opening set. However, the Redhawks took advantage of NM State’s errors and tied it up at 17-17. The Aggies ended up dropping the set 25-21.
NM State looked to have cleaned up its mistakes in the second set, as the Aggies held the lead at 8-7. Unfortunately though, things looked pretty bleak as the Redhawks went up 18-12. However, the Aggies rallied all the way back to tie it up at 19-19, and eventually took the set 26-24.
After the break, NM State looked to come out on fire opening up a 4-0 lead to start the third set. But again, mistakes and miscues hurt the Aggies as Seattle U went up 10-9 to stay. NM State dropped the set 25-16.
The Aggies finally came alive and cleaned up their mistakes never relinquishing the lead in the fourth set, after starting on a 3-0 run. At the height, NM State led by as much as six points at 19-13. The Aggies closed out the set 25-16.
NM State carried its new found momentum into the fifth and final set. Both teams matched each other point for point until the Aggies went up 8-6 midway through the frame. They would not let go of the lead, as they claimed the set and the match with a 15-11 decision.
The Aggies are back in action Saturday, Nov. 14 as they close out regular season conference play against Utah Valley. First serve is set for 11 a.m. at the Utah Valley PE Building.
