LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico state volleyball team heads to Richmond, Ky., for the Colonel Challenge where they will take on Eastern Kentucky, Western Carolina and Western Illinois. The Aggies open with host Eastern Kentucky on Friday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. (MT).
 
WHERE TO WATCH
 The only match this weekend that is set to be streamed is NM State's match with Eastern Kentucky. Aggie nation can stream all the action live on ESPN+.  
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can keep up with all the action with live stats, here.
 
NM STATE NOTES
• NM State picked up its first win against a Big 10 opponent since Sept. 20, 1986, with a five-set win over Northwestern in the Pan Am on March 3, 2021.  
 
• Alana Embry picked up the first two double-doubles of her career against Northwestern (19 assists, 12 digs) and UTEP (22 assists, 15 digs).
 
• Senior setter Carly Aigner-Swesey is currently on a three match double-double streak and has recorded four double-doubles in six matches.
 
• AVCA All-Region middle Lia Mosher leads the WAC in hitting percentage, hitting a red-hot .459 on the year. Mosher has hit just eight errors on the season and has yet to hit below .350 in the Aggies' six matches
 
• Shaney Lipscomb ranks 9^th in the WAC in hitting percentage with an efficient .302 on the year.  
 
• Sophomore outside hitter Mari Sharp recorded the best match of her career at UTEP on Sept. 5. The Albuquerque native hit .435 with 10 kills and no errors on 23 swings.
 
• Libero Darian Markham notched a career-high 27 digs in NM State's win over Northwestern.  
 
• Markham ranks 23^rd nationally with 118 total digs.
 
SCOUTING EKU
• Eastern Kentucky is currently 1-5 on the season with the lone win coming against UNC Greensboro.
 
• The Aggies and Colonels have played three times with NM State winning all three meetings, the last meeting between the two was a five-set Aggie win in 2018.
 
• Sophomore outside hitter Molly Michalak leads the Colonel's offensive attack, averaging 2.76 kills per set.  
 
A LOOK AT WESTERN CAROLINA
• This is the first meeting all-time between the Aggies and the Catamounts.
 
• WCU is currently and riding a two-match winning streak into the Colonel Challenge.
 
• Senior outside hitter Merry Gebel has been solid for the Catamounts, hitting .203 with 3.00 kills per set.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS
• The Fighting Leathernecks currently sit at 0-6 overall and are coming off back-to-back five set losses at the IUPUI Invitational.
 
• This is the first meeting all-time between NM State and WIU.
 
• Western Illinois has struggled offensively with just one player hitting over .175.
 
UP NEXT
The Aggies head to DeLand, Fla., for the Stetson Invitational from Sept. 17-18 where they will take on USF, Bethune-Cookman and Stetson. This is the final non-conference tournament for NM State before it begins WAC play.
 
 
 
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