LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State volleyball get set to pack the Pan American Center when the team welcome UT Rio Grande Valley to the City of Crosses for a match on Saturday, Oct. 27. First serve from the conference clash is set for 2 p.m. MT.

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FOLLOW ALONG
New Mexico State's match against the Vaqueros can be heard on 91.5 FM KRUX or through the TuneIn site or app on tablets or mobile devices with Adam Young handling the play-by-play. Fans can also watch the match on the WAC Digital Network.

WEEKLY WARRIOR
Megan Hart took home her first career WAC weekly honor when she was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. The redshirt junior had an outstanding week defensively for the Aggies, both at the net and in the back row. She led the league with 1.86 blocks per set while also averaging 1.86 digs per set when NM State went 2-0 on the week to extend its home winning streak to 20 matches. The middle blocker posted her first career double-double when she recorded 12 kills and 11 digs in a four-set victory against Utah Valley, adding a team-high six blocks in the match. She closed out the weekend with a match-high seven blocks in a sweep of CSU Bakersfield. Hart currently ranks fifth in the WAC with 1.05 blocks per set.

The honor for Hart was the third award given to a New Mexico State player this season. Tatyana Battle won WAC Offensive Player of the Week following the Aggies 4-0 week that included a five-set win over Arizona. The senior averaged 3.47 points and 3.25 kills and was named the most valuable player of the Borderland/SpringHill Suites Invitational. Julianna Salanoa earned the defensive award after leading NM State to a 2-0 week where she averaged 2.67 blocks per set.

WHERE IN THE WAC
Overall, NM State leads the WAC with a .155 opponent hitting percentage and ranks third in blocks (2.34). In conference matches alone, the Aggies are the league leaders with a .138 opponent hitting clip. The squad is also second in hitting percentage (.229) and blocks (2.74) while also ranking third in assists (12.43).

Individually, Battle ranks fifth in kills (3.39) and sixth points (3.80). The senior also leads the league with 13 double-doubles so far this season. Salanoa sits in third with 1.13 blocks per set while Hart tallied 1.05 for all matches, placing the middle blocker in fifth. Natalie Mikels ranks sixth with a 0.30 aces per set average.  In conference play only, Battle is fourth in the league for kills (3.69) and sixth points (4.09) while also ranking eighth in hitting percentage (.235). Salanoa is fourth for blocks (1.41) and Savannah Davison sits in ninth for kills (3.03) and 10^th for points (3.33).

Seniors Briana Ainsworth and Battle also rank among the Aggie legends. Setter Ainsworth currently ranks seventh all-time with 2,527 career assists. Meanwhile, Battle ranks fourth with 3,579 career attacks and ninth with 1,247 kills, three shy of eighth place.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME
NM State heads into the conference clash riding a 20-match home winning streak, which dates back to the 2017 season. The Aggies last loss at the Pan American Center came on Sept. 1, 2017 when the squad fell in straight sets to then-ranked No. 11 UCLA. During the streak, New Mexico State took down rivals UTEP and New Mexico and earlier this season, the Aggies won a five-set thriller against Arizona for the program's first win over the Wildcats since volleyball became an NCAA sanctioned sport.

LAST TIME OUT
The Aggies won their seventh-straight match when the team swept CSU Bakersfield. NM State recorded 33 kills on hitting .194 while holding the 'Runners to 30 kills and a .000 hitting clip. New Mexico State also tallied 44 digs, 30 assists and 13 blocks in the win. Battle picked up another double-double, her 13th of the season, when she posted 10 kills and 10 digs. Defensively, Halle Razo recorded a squad-best 13 digs while Hart led the team with seven blocks.

SCOUTING THE VAQUEROS
UT Rio Grande Valley enters the match with at 16-8 overall and 7-3 in league play. The Vaqueros come to the City of Crosses as a conference leader in digs 17.68. In only WAC matches, UTRGV posts a league-best 1.79 service aces and 19.18 digs.

In the first meeting between the teams this season, the Aggies won a five-set thriller at UT Rio Grande Valley in their only match last week. New Mexico State posted 63 kills on a .204 hitting clip to 57 on .214 for the Vaqueros while racking up 59 assists and 83 digs. Battle posted the 11th double-double of her senior campaign on 12 kills and 16 digs while Davison picked up her fifth double-double of the season on 13 kills and 14 digs.

Cat Kelly led the team with 14 kills, a new career best, on a .400 hitting clip. Ainsworth and Mikels also tallied double-doubles in the victory. Ainsworth had 25 assists and 14 digs while Mikels posted 22 assists and 15 digs.

COMING UP: BACK IN WACTION
NM State hits the road for a pair of conference matches. New Mexico State first heads to Seattle to face off against Seattle U on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. MT. The Aggies then travel for a match at Utah Valley. First serve from Orem, Utah is scheduled for 1 p.m.