by by Jake Hudspeth
Box Score LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State picked up right where they left off in conference play with a 3-0 sweep against UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday afternoon at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
The Aggies opened up the second half of the WAC slate with their eight straight conference win with a 25-14, 25-18, 26-24 decision over the Vaqueros.
Once again, Senior Nathalie Castellanos set the pace for the Aggies with 14 kills. The Vado, N.M./Gadsden HS native registered her second-straight match with double digit kills, after putting up 14 kills on Tuesday against I-10 rival UTEP. Castellanos also hit for a .522 hitting percentage.
“Nathalie played very well,” said head coach Mike Jordan. “She is very versatile and we can put her anywhere on the court. When she is on and accurate, she is really hard to handle.”
Senior Bradley Nash (Navajo Nation)also put up double digit kills, registering 11. The Kayenta, Ariz./Monument Valley HS native led the Aggies in hitting percentage with an impressive .556.
Junior Alisha Watson led the Vaqueros with 10 kills.
UTRGV did their best to keep it close early in the first set with five ties through nine points, but the Aggies were too strong as they captured the set 25-14.
NM State’s momentum carried into the second set as it looked like they would run away with the frame clutching an 18-7 lead midway through the match. However, the Vaqueros rallied back to make it close, but ultimately dropped the set 25-18.
After the break, the third set looked to be more of the same with the Aggies holding on to a 17-10 lead midway through the frame, but UTRGV rallied all the way back to tie it up at 18 all. The rest of the set was back and forth with three lead changes and four ties, but NM State came out on top with the 26-24 win.
The Aggies are back in action on Thursday, October 29, as they travel to Kansas City, Mo. to take on UMKC. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. at the Swinney Recreation Center.
