LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State volleyball travels for its next set of Western Athletic Conference matches. The Aggies face off against Seattle U at 7 p.m. MT on Thursday, Nov. 3 from the Redhawk Center. NM State closes the weekend with a match against Utah Valley at the Lockhart Arena on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 1 p.m. Fans can watch both matches on the WAC Digital Network.

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WHERE IN THE WAC
Overall, the Aggies lead the league in opponent hitting percentage (.156) and the clip also ranks 18th nationally. New Mexico State also rank third in the conference for blocks (2.34), fourth for assists (11.76) and fourth for hitting percentage (.219). In WAC play only, the squad again leads the conference in opponent hitting percentage (.140). NM State also places second among league teams in hitting percentage (.227) and assists (12.50) while also ranking third in blocks (2.70) and kills (13.30).

Individually, Megan Hart posts a .347 hitting clip and 1.05 blocks, which puts the redshirt junior in third and sixth in the respective categories. Julianna Salanoa posts 1.13 blocks per set, which is good for third in the conference. Tatyana Battle ranks fifth in kills (3.36), sixth in points (3.76), and ninth in digs (2.98). Natalie Mikels posts 0.28 service aces, putting the sophomore ninth in the league.

In WAC play alone, Hart (.381) and Salanoa (.348) rank second and third, respectively, for hitting percentage. The duo also rank third and sixth in the league for blocks with Salanoa posting 1.38 and Hart recording 1.17. Battle sits in fourth in kills (3.60), fifth in points (3.97) and 10^th in digs (3.08). Setters Briana Ainsworth (5.38) and Mikels (5.20) place eighth and 10^th, respectively, in the conference for assists. Rounding out the Aggies on the top-10 lists is Savannah Davison with 2.95 kills per set, which puts the freshman 10^th on the WAC leaderboard.

Seniors Ainsworth and Battle also rank among the Aggie legends. Ainsworth currently ranks seventh all-time with 2,555 career assists. Meanwhile, Battle ranks fourth with 3,619 career attempts and eighth with 1,262 kills.

LAST TIME OUT
New Mexico State fell at home in a five-set thriller to UT Rio Grande Valley last Saturday. The Aggies posted 68 kills on hitting .210 in the loss while holding UTRGV to 48 kills and a .163 hitting clip. NM State also tallied 72 digs, 65 assists and 12 blocks. Cat Kelly led the squad with a career-high 18 kills. Battle had a 15 kills with 10 digs for her 14th double-double of the season. Setters Ainsworth and Mikels also tallied double-doubles with Ainsworth recording 28 assists and 13 digs and Mikels having 27 assists and 13 digs. Halle Razo led all players in the match with 15 digs.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
Seattle U holds a 9-14 overall record and a 2-8 record in conference play. The Redhawks lone wins in league play came at Grand Canyon and against Chicago State. As a team, SU posts 12.24 kills and 14.73 digs per set. In league play, Tijana Milojevic leads the WAC in digs with 5.54 per set.

During the first meeting between the teams this season, Sofia Sanchez led the Redhawk squad with 12 kills. Shae Harris tallied 31 assists and had 19 digs for a double-double. NM State's Battle led all players with 18 kills. Fellow senior Ainsworth tallied 22 assists and 19 digs in the Aggie victory.

LOOKING AT THE WOLVERINES
Utah Valley enters the week at 12-11 overall and 4-6 against WAC opponents. The Wolverines post 12.35 kills and 14.62 digs as a squad while also tallying a league-best 2.54 blocks. Individually, Kazna Tarawhiti leads the conference with 4.12 kills.

When the teams met earlier this season, NM State defeated the Wolverines in four sets. Tarawhiti led all players with 24 kills and Kenzie Guimont had nine blocks. For the New Mexico State, Battle had 18 kills and 21 digs while Hart tallied her first career double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs.

COMING UP: BACK IN WACTION
NM State faces off against Grand Canyon in the Aggies final road battle of the regular season on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. New Mexico State follows the match with a contest at home when the Aggies welcome California Baptist to the Pan American Center on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m.