I have to start this looking backward. I saw the match on Thursday (10-13-16) versus the UMKC Roo’s on Aggievision. What a tremendous win for the Aggies. They went down two sets to a good team and battled back to tie it. In the 5th set, the Aggies went down 1-5. #20 Sasha-Lee Thomas, who had been used sparingly due to an ankle injury, just took over. She was directly involved in winning about seven points in a row. The Roo’s made a comeback, but the Aggies would finally take it. #6 Tatyana Battle had a career game, while #3 Jordan Abalos had another 20+ kill game. (I was at work at the time and not taking notes.) #12 Megan Hart was a starter and #24 Lexi May platooned with her for much of the game.
However, Sasha could barely walk by the end of the match. #13 Alexsa “Crash” Parker also had an ankle injury and was mostly limited to just serving, which is one of her strong points. If Jordan was playing hurt in the last game, at least she looked good here. In the post-match interview, Coach Mike Jordan said the girls played through some “yellow puddles,” but came through. I hate to imagine what he’d have said if they’d lost. Congratulations to Adam Young for not having any reaction to what the coach was saying while he was interviewing him.
This brings us to today’s match on Saturday. I’d like to thank everyone involved in Major League Baseball for putting both league championship series on obscure cable networks, so that I wouldn’t be able to watch, thus making it a very decision to go this afternoon. The parking lot in front of the Pan-Am Center was pretty full. There was even a tailgater party. An unidentified student association had a table set up. I’m not sure if they were handing out anything. I was too shy to find out. The building had two large pink ribbons mounted on the front for New Mexico State’s “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign for breast cancer awareness. This is a well supported promotion by the community.
Inside, there was a table set up with various cancer awareness material. The Pink Panther was behind the table, taking pictures with kids. It was cute with kids running up for a hug. Who doesn’t like a mascot? The souvenir table was packed with customers. No, you read that right. I was surprised too. Here I’d finally decided to get a new hat and couldn’t get at it. There didn’t seem to be anything new there. A bunch of young girls just wanted some team gear. I just picked up lemonade at the concession, since I was planning getting a meal after the match. (If only the Chihuahuas people ran the concession here.)
The stands were filled with a riot of hot pink. There were plenty of styles of pink shirts, but I think they were handing out shirts somewhere though I didn’t see where. It was just as well. I’d be afraid to wash one of those shirts with anything else. (Two words to get me to not wear an article of clothing: wash separate.) The Aggie team staff was in pink, and even Coach Jordan wore a light pink dress shirt. The team wasn’t in pink (I’ve seen the softball team in pink before), though there was some pink trimmings. #12 Frankie Taylor, the Cougars’ libero, was in a light pink shirt. I don’t know if it was a coincidence or not.
There was a good crowd present (attendance later announced at over 1,000). The people behind me were talking about Thursday’s game. I didn’t see any girls’ volleyball teams present, but there were plenty of kids. There are three women working as officials, including the attractive blonde woman I’d noticed from another match. I get the impression that there aren’t that many refs to work these conference games. We’ve got a DJ spinning the tunes. The cheerleaders, along with the guy cheerleaders are present. Pistol Pete is in the house, as is the women’s basketball team (who get shown the video board later). This time, I’ve got a radio with me to listen to Adam Young’s commentary. I have to turn the volume way up to hear it over the crowd and the music.
Set 1
The Aggies roll off four points to start the set. When the Cougars get their first point, they let off a small scream of a cheer. Crash comes into serve and Sasha-Lee, who didn’t start, comes in. Her and #14 Kassandra “KC” Tohm get a point off a block. Sasha gets a kill at 8-3. She seems okay playing.
Adam mentions something from Thursday’s TV broadcast about the Aggies changing systems. I can almost see that they’re playing a bit differently style-wise, and occasionally there’s some coverage assignment issues. Unfortunately, the analysis went over my head. In any case, I’m enjoying getting some informed commentary with the action. There’s just a slight delay between live action and the radio.
#15 Hannah Combs comes in and gets a good kill that just hits the line. #1 Brianna Ainsworth follows that up with an untouched ace on the back line, 12-5. Crash serves up an ace at 16-10. Unfortunately, errors bring Chicago State back into the game. 18-14, Jordan gets her first kill. At 20-16, Brianna tries a dump kill. The ball comes back over, but she manages to kill it into the backcourt. 21-17, the Cougars’ Frankie Taylor, that I mentioned before, makes three diving saves on the play.
The Aggies end up taking the set 25-19. Tatyana leads the way with six kills. I notice that #12 Megan Hart doesn’t come in during the set. She’s ends up not coming in for the game. I hope she’s okay. Between sets the Pink Panther, excuse me, “Pinky” as he’s announced, comes out on to court for a breast cancer awareness message.
Set 2 Aggies 1, Cougars 0
Aggie #5 Brigette Lowe enters as a starter for this set and promptly scores two points off a kill and block. I hadn’t seen the freshman in a game before. At 5-0 Aggies, Chicago State takes a timeout. It was a good one as the score was tied at 5 shortly thereafter. Timeout Aggies. Another spot runs for the Sideout Club promising exclusive after match events. With the players? Dinner and dancing perhaps? Since most of the girls are taller than me, they’ll have to lead, but that’s okay since I don’t really know how to dance. I really feel like they’re teasing me with this ad, just ever so tempting me.
6-7, a Sasha-Lee kill ends a run. She gets another and limps off the court. Or is it another kill? The Cougars argue the point and after a conference, the refs call for a replay of the point, which the Aggies lose. Well, that’s one way to do a replay that doesn’t involve watching a ref put on a headset and stick his head under a hood. Actually this rule was so unexpected to me, I didn’t know what to make of it. It must have been really confusing for anyone not listening to the broadcast.
9-9, Crash serves up an ace to tie. 11-11, Jordan gets a kill to tie it. Do you get the impression this was a closely fought set? 14-13 Sasha-Lee gets the kill and the Aggies take the lead. During a timeout, another guest comes out on court, an older woman. She’s introduced as Jordan Abalos’ grandmother. She was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year, and she’s beaten it. God bless her, she gets a standing ovation from the crowd.
From here the Aggies take over. Adam finally makes a comment on the officials after a late call. There’s been some hesitation on some calls. A Sasha-Lee kill at 24-18 brings up set point. Chicago State gets the next point, though Crash makes a spectacular save during it. KC gets a slap kill to end the set, 25-19. KC I’ve had a little trouble identifying since her hair color and style have changed since her program picture, which identifies her as Kassandra, though she’s always announced as KC. She now sports dark hair with distinctive light purple highlights, which looks attractive without being showy.
During the intermission, I ran out to find a bathroom. Running, because I’d noticed many of them were closed on my way in and I had to find an open one. I also made it to the souvenir table and finally got the new hat (serviced by a very nice young woman). I just made it back to my seat before the start of the 3rd set. I may never get to see the intermission entertainment.
Set 3 Aggies 2, Cougars 0
It starts contentiously with a long point, which ends on a kill by Tatyana. Crash is starting this set and takes the first Aggie service. Though they lose point, Crash gets a great dig during it. Adam states that she’s probably good to start tomorrow’s game. The next point, however, is a bit scary as Sasha-Lee takes a kill shot right to face. A referee stops play for a minute as she composes herself. Sasha stays in for the next point, but comes out right after. Hopefully, this doesn’t leave too bad a mark on her after the game. Sasha has such a pleasant face and great smile.
The Aggies go down 2-5 and become a bit flustered. At 3-6, Jordan Abalos starts the comeback with a kill. #24 Lexi May comes in and helps on a block with Jordan to bring the score to 8-7 Aggies. Lexi then gets a great soft kill at 11-9. Wait, Pistol Pete walks by and gives me a high-five while he’s working the crowd! Okay, back to game.
14-9, Sasha-Lee is back in and gets the kill of the match. She reaches over the net and smacks an overpass hard enough to leave a crater on the court. Obviously that’s an embellishment, but I’d like to think she worked off her frustration over getting hit. 15-9 and Tatyana slams a kill and joins the party. 16-9 Crash serves up an ace.
Chicago State was not done yet. 20-15 is another late call by the officials. I would at least say that volleyball generally doesn’t seem to be ruled by the officials, unlike football. The officiating I’ve seen in my limited exposure has generally been efficient and unobtrusive. 20-16, the Cougars win a long point. 21-16, Jordan gets a fine defensive kill. Chicago State goes on a run, but is ended at 23-20 by another Jordan kill. At the first set point, Tatyana gets a kill to quickly end the set (25-20) and match (3-0).
A big crowd went to the floor to get autographs. Jordan got held up taking pictures with fans on court and doing an interview on camera. Pistol Pete may have taken her place in line until she got settled. I could finally hear my radio better with less crowd noise and had to turn it down. Coach Jordan finished his interview with a “Go Cubs!” Hey, I could talk baseball with the coach at the exclusive booster parties.
Our player of the game is Jordan Abalos’ grandmother. Obviously determination runs in the family and it’s even contagious amongst teammates. While there were many standouts playing, let’s credit this as a team victory. While the team occasionally veered close to self-destruction, they stubbornly refused to do so. The spotlight rotated around several players (Jordan 13 kills, Tatyana 12 kills, Sasha-Lee 9 kills, KC 7 kills, and Hannah and Brigette had some good playing time) as they were picking each other up during the match. Short-handed Chicago State (they only had three girls on the bench) also played with quite a bit of heart, but the Aggies have too many good players to stop them all for a whole match. It’s been a productive, but painful homestand for the Aggies, and the girls have another match tomorrow afternoon in Albuquerque. Hopefully, they can gut out another win against those Lobos.
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