LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State volleyball team closed out the NM State SpringHill Suites Invitational with a match against Lamar at the Pan American Center on Saturday. The Aggies topped the Cardinals 22-25, 25-18, 28-26, 25-17 in the tournament finale.

"We were inconsistent too often. Our good is tough to beat but our bad makes us vulnerable," head coach Mike Jordan said. "We need to learn how to function better as a team and be consistent. As much as I think we need to clean up our game and get better, I'll take 8-1 at this point in the season."

HOW IT HAPPENED

NM State (8-1) came out flat against Lamar (5-5) and when the Aggies recorded their second service error of the match to go down 12-8 in the opening set, Jordan used a timeout. New Mexico State rallied following the break and a kill by Megan Hart tied the set 16-16. The teams battled back-and-forth but an ace by the opposition put the NM State behind 21-19 before Jordan used his final timeout. The deficit proved to be too much to overcome that late in the set and New Mexico State fell to the Cardinals 25-22.

Looking to rally in the second set, the Aggies jumped out to a 9-2 lead after Cat Kelly recorded a kill off an assist from Natalie Mikels. The squads battled point-for-point down the stretch but a four-point run for the Crimson and White put the team ahead 19-12. Holding all the momentum, Lia Mosher sent the Aggies to set point with a kill and Kelly's kill off an assist from Krysten Garrison allowed New Mexico State to win the second set 25-18.

Both teams kept the third set close but an attack error by the Aggies led to a timeout for the Crimson and White with the squad trailing 18-16. Following the break, New Mexico State scored five-straight points, including a block by Mosher and Megan Hart, to give the Aggies the 21-18 advantage. Holding set point, NM State allowed a pair of aces and a kill, which tied the set. The teams continued to fight for each point but an attack error by Lamar gave the Aggies the edge they needed before Hart came through with a kill to give the team the 28-26 victory.

NM State kept its momentum going by scoring the first four points in the final set. The Cardinals came within a point of the New Mexico State advantage but a kill by Julianna Salanoa started a rally where the Aggies posted five-straight points following the play. The Crimson and White added a scoring run with Kelly behind the service line to go ahead 12-5 before another Aggie rally gave the squad a 10-point lead. NM State continued to dominate late in the set and Brigette Lowe nailed a kill off an assist from Mikels to give the team the set point before Katie Birtcil sealed the 25-17 win for the Aggies.

BY THE NUMBERS

New Mexico State posted 63 kills and a .348 hitting percentage in the victory. The Aggies recorded 63 digs and 61 assists in the four-set match. Mikels tallied her first double-double of the season with 30 assists and 11 digs. Savannah Davison led the team with 15 kills while hitting .361 in the victory.  Salanoa led all players with five blocks. Following the match, Salanoa and Kelly were named to the all-tournament team.

NM State heads to the Grand Canyon State for the Wildcat Classic next weekend. New Mexico State is set to face off against Sacramento State, Alabama State and host Arizona at the two-day tournament from Sept. 20-21.