NM State Aggies vs Seattle U Redhawks Volleyball 10-26-19

I was solo for today’s match.  Danny was going to be out-of-town to watch some DII volleyball and softball in Silver City.  Ron’s emergency that kept him from coming to Thursday’s game was a medical one.  The person he was caretaking for passed away Friday.  That was not unexpected.  He was going to be wrapping stuff up Saturday, but was planning on going to Monday’s game. 

I was not alone, however.  It was a Pack the Pan-Am event today with a bunch of $1 tickets sold to the community.  I went early and there were quite a few cars already in the lot.  During the match, a long list of companies and individual donors were read off as bulk ticket buyers.  The crowd that finally materialized was maybe disappointing in that respect, but the program probably made some extra money.  It was perhaps a bit larger than Thursday’s 1,000.  There were a lot more kids though.  I’d say this crowd was more enthusiastic.

On the way over, I did see an odd sight.  It was a perfect clear blue day with virtually no breeze.  However, a black piece of tarp was somehow caught up in the air like a kite.  It somewhat impossibly flew around over the road.  It seemed like an act of transvection this close to Halloween.  I refused to accept this sight as a bad omen.

Inside the Pan-Am, I picked up a Gia Pack Aggie Women’s Basketball poster, since I’d finally remembered to bring a rubber band with me to roll it up with.  I’d gotten the two Men’s Basketball posters a couple of weeks ago, but left them in Ron’s car and hadn’t seen him since.  (In the meantime, AJ Harris, one of the poster boys, had gotten injured and was going to be out for a while.) 

There was also a giveaway courtesy of El Paso Electric.  They were handing out drawstring backpacks along with a four-pack of LED lightbulbs.  That’s quite a gift, since I think those things are pricey (compared to incandescent bulbs).  I don’t have a use for them at the moment.  I’m mostly using some CFL bulbs that I’d bought on closeout when those fell out of fashion. 

I picked my old spot to sit at on the east side behind the boosters.  You can see what’s going on at the Aggie bench and even occasionally hear Coach Jordan if he’s yelling loud enough (9-2-17).  When the teams change sides, you can get a good look at the visitors.  Also, the up official blocks some of the action on the other side.  However, I wasn’t able to see Emerson working with PA Ed at the scorer’s table as well as from the other side.  Today, amazing Grace was working with them and even took over Emerson’s duties for the afternoon.  (I am so jealous of Ed working with those two beauties.)

Aggie Football was on one of the scoring table monitors.  They were playing Georgia Southern this afternoon.  I’d heard the first series of the game at home.  The Aggies forced a fumble and had scored.  I’d taken my radio with me, but after I’d sat down, I was content to watch the girls warm up and listen to the PA music.  Later, I’d asked my dad about the game.  He said the final was 41-7 Georgia Southern.  I apparently heard all of the Aggie highlights when I’d listened earlier.

In our now regular attractive opposing assistant coach segment, Cheri Lindsay looked tough, but hot for the Seattle U Redhawks.  She had her hair up and was wearing high spiked heels with a tight-fitting dress shirt.  She had a sucker in her mouth on court.  That’s probably not a good idea with balls flying around.  (Grace had one too.  They must have had them available at the scorer’s table.)  Their other assistant coach, Giedre Tarnauskaite had very nice hair.  (I couldn't find good pictures of either on their team website.)  

Speaking of lovely hair, their head coach got a visit from our own TV commentator with long tresses, Kelsi Meredith.  It was a short talk.  I wonder if she played against him and was just saying, “Hi.”  The Redhawks were 10-13 overall, but 1-8 in conference.  How could anybody (other than Chicago State) be 1-8 in the WAC?  I thought I remembered hearing they were supposed to be a good team this year, but were devastated with injuries.  Their collapse must have happened at the start of their conference schedule.   

The courtside video board was bathing the Aggie girls in a weird red light.  You didn’t see that from the other side.  Cat Kelly’s thigh was still bandaged up.  In the postgame interview from Thursday, Coach Jordan said that her and Savannah Davison hadn’t practiced much during the week because of injuries.  They did seem a little off in Thursday’s game, but still led the team in kills.  Gee, how would they have been if they’d been totally healthy?

After the team was dressed, diminutive Brenda Hernandez led the team out instead of Analyssa Acosta.  For the player introductions, Julianna Salanoa made a great toss with her autographed ball to a girl in the stands.  Savannah ran over to the sidelines and gave hers to a little girl.  The crowd was still coming in as the match started.  Across the court, where I was usually sitting, there was a father and little daughter that I’d noticed outside.  It looked like some quality bonding time, as he had his arm around her.  Aww.     

Set 1

Wow, three pages in before I actually get to the game.  This is why I shouldn’t go to these things alone.  I start writing too much.  Cat was still playing well and got the first point with a kill.  The Redhawks got the next point as Natalie Mikels served out.  2-1 Aggies, SU returned the favor by serving into the net.  3-1, Julianna and Ashley Anselmo combined on a block.  4-2, Jules came up with a hard kill.  5-2, Jules served an ace.  She was everywhere. 

6-3 Aggies, Ash went crosscourt for a kill.  SU looked totally disorganized on the point.  7-4, beautiful Megan Hart slammed one after firing out on the previous point.  8-4, Cat and Lia Mosher combined on a block.  8-5, the Redhawks won the point, but Krysten Garrison made a great fist dig on an overpass kill attempt.  10-6, SU took this point as Lia jumped into a set for her.  When she cycled out, she apologized to the coach standing on the sidelines. 

13-7 Aggies, Julianna was still on fire.  She had a block or a hard tip on this point.  Annie made a great diving save at the net to keep it going.  14-8, the Aggies were called for being in the net.  15-8, SU was called for a double touch, which took us to the media timeout.  Coach Jordan and Assistant Coach Hertel did the talking in the huddle.  Nobody looked angry yet.  The video screen showed a kid doing the scissors to Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics.  I’m sure this kind of spectacle was never imagined when the song was written.  He got a round of applause.

16-8 Aggies, I think the Redhawks were called for being out-of-rotation.  The foul was called before the Aggie serve.  Their coach argued unsuccessfully.  16-9, SU won the point, but the Aggies conducted a fire drill at the net to keep the point going.  17-10, Sav with the kill to break up the SU run.  18-10, Lia flexed on a kill here.  19-10, Meg got a kill.  Timeout Seattle U.  They showed that kid dancing on camera again.  The video director had found a star.

20-10 Aggies, Savannah got the kill to finish a minute-long rally.  Cat had two great digs.  The crowd was screaming as the point kept going.  They willed that one for the Aggies.  23-11, Halle Razo came in to serve and Tessa Fisk joined her.  Tessa, the tall freshman, combined with Meg on a block and Cat took the point with a kill.  Reserves Autumn Gentry and Kassi Stolz came in.  Oh, too bad Ron isn’t here to see his favorites.  Perhaps just as well.  The Redhawks went on a 5-point run that included the Aggies getting called for being out-of-rotation.  The crowd just kept getting louder for the Aggies though.  Megan was still in and trying dig, set, and swing.  Cat finally ended it with a kill.  25-16 Aggies.

Set 2: Aggies 1, Redhawks 0

Bang!  3-1 Aggies, Megan got things rolling with a kill that rebounded into the stands.  Brigette Lowe was in for this set.  6-4, Amaris Carter with SU had a great kill.  7-4, Julianna took a very low set and blasted it in for a kill.  That’s where she likes the ball put.  8-4, Jules and Ashley combined on a block.  8-5, Nat had a net serve.  The coach may be giving her more leeway, since she has the most aces. 

9-7 Aggies, Redhawk Eve Kerschenbaum made a dunk on an overpass.  She’s a tall, pretty blonde.  I warned you I’d be checking out the other team when they changed ends.  Their libero, Tijana Milojevic, was also really pretty, though she did clank on a couple of serve receives.  10-7, Sav answered by burying a kill.  SU came back to tie it at 10 with an ace by Eve.  They took an 11-10 lead on a Sav attack error.  She went crosscourt on the next point to equalize it.

13-11 Aggies, Brigette let a popup at the net fall at her feet, just out.  That was gutty, because it looked in.  14-12, Sav muscled a kill through a block.  15-12, Meg made a solo block to take us to the media timeout.  A troop of little girls danced for the camera.  Back to the boy, he was dabbing now.  You think he plays Fortnite? 

16-12 Aggies, out of the break, Brig got the block.  17-12, Meg and Cat made a block.  Timeout SU.  There was a souvenir hat toss into the crowd.  Did they say it was a leather hat?  That seems unlikely.  I didn’t get a good look at it.  20-13, Krysten made a great dive save at the net.  Jules popped it up and the ball hit the SU backline.  It’s no fair getting that lucky.  24-14, Nat got in an ace at the defender’s ankles.  Sav missed on the first two set points, but Ash finished with a kill, 25-16.

Set 3: Aggies 2, Redhawks 0

I hadn’t seen Pistol Pete all game until I noticed him with the Cheerleaders.  He was keeping a low profile.  Usually he’s working the whole crowd.  Brenda and Kassi were working it for dance cam on the sidelines.

1-1, Jules whiffed on a tip.  Nobody’s perfect.  SU took the lead on the next point with an ace, but were called for a lift on the next point.  3-2 Aggies, Sav powered one in.  4-3 SU, Jules missed on a soft shot.  Coach Jordan had been sitting, but got up to say something to the girls on court.  5-3 SU, the Redhawks took a long rally as Ashley was blocked.  5-4 SU, they served into the net here.

5-5, Savannah hit one way out, but a touch was called.  The Redhawk coach complained.  Sav grinned like she’d gotten away with one.  7-5 SU, the Redhawks went back into the lead as Meg went into the net for a foul.  8-5 SU, the Redhawks got an ace off a tape shot.  The crowd started getting loud cheering for the Aggies to comeback.  8-6 SU, Megan had a kill.  10-7 SU, Sav served into the net.  10-8 SU, Cat split the defenders for the kill.  11-8 SU, Lia tried to go crosscourt, but didn’t make it over the net. 

11-10 SU, a block error on a swing by Ashley went out.  12-10 SU, Natalie served into the net.  12-12, Sav had a block to tie it and then gave the Aggies the lead on the next point with a kill.  14-12 Aggies, Ash and Jules had a block.  15-13, Sav dunked one for a kill.  We went to the media timeout.  Yes, finally.  I was in the Raising Canes coupon giveaway section.  That was another reason why I chose to sit here.  I had a feeling. 

16-14 Aggies, Ashley fired one wide.  Now Coach Jordan was yelling, though he took it out on Coach Hertel.  17-14, Ash took the next pass and put it in for a kill.  19-14, an SU out shot went into the scorer’s table.  The guys there watching their monitors were unfazed.  Coach Jordan said something to them.  He probably told them to pay attention and dig those shots out.  20-15, Sav pounded another kill.  Halle came in to serve for her.  Sav looked a little gassed, but happy.  She’d done a good job bringing the Aggies back for this set.

21-16 Aggies, SU took a timeout.  Mini balls were tossed into the crowd by the Cheerleaders.  22-16, Jules and Lia combined for a block.  Jordan George came in.  22-16, freshman Katie Birtcil came in.  24-18, Cat got a no-set kill.  She’s a dynamo.  24-19, Katie came up to serve and put it right in the net.  That was her first serve of the year.  Brenda came in to some cheers.  The Redhawks picked on her immediately and got two aces serving to her.  The coach put a couple of the regulars back in.  Brenda still got some cheers coming out.  Jules ended it with a kill.  The Aggies took Set 3, 25-21, and the match, 3-0.

The Aggies slipped a bit in the third set, but took care of business.  Coach Jordan was a bit too eager to put in the reserves at the end to save them for their Monday game.  The team was 13 to 2 in blocks and 60 to 33 in kills.  Savannah Davison led with 16 kills.  She was a real spark for the team in the third set and just willed them into the lead.  Cat Kelly was a steady force with 13 kills.  Julianna Salanoa, Megan Hart, and Ashley Anselmo were a bit quiet with the kills, but were awesome in blocking. That’s the thing with this team.  At least two players are going to have double digit kills and five different players are capable of doing that.  You can’t shut everyone out.

Analyssa came up in stands to see her folks.  I think I’ve figured out that there’s not going to be an autograph session this season.  She’s the one I really wanted to see to congratulate her on starting.  I hung around for a minute, but she didn’t get close enough to get her attention.  Oh, well.  I did meet a lady as I was coming out of the bathroom.  I think she was the lady who was sitting somewhere behind me and was the loudest cheerer in the crowd.  She asked me about my notetaking.  I must look like a nut.  I gave her my blog address at her request. 

Later, I heard the Coach’s postgame comments.  Coach Jordan was much more sympathetic and understanding towards the reserve players that came in at the end than I’d imagined.  He said that he carried a large roster and had a lot of walk-ons.  He wanted to respect the work that they were putting in by getting them into games.  At the same time, he recognized that it was very hard for someone to come into a game cold and unexpected.  The Coach praised Brenda and Katie’s abilities, knowing he’d put them in a difficult spots.  

At one-and-a-half hours, that was a very efficient match.  Coupon in hand, I called my dad and asked if he’d like some Raising Cane’s chicken.  It was a bit early for dinner, but he was interested.  At the restaurant, I ran into the Aggie Cheerleaders, still in uniform.  As they’d been the ones to hand out the coupons, I told them, “Thanks.”  They were using them too.  Over at my parent’s apartment, dad showed me the newspaper article of Thursday game and asked if that was me in the background of the picture.  It was. 

I got back home and settled in to watch the World Series.  Unfortunately, as the game got out-of-hand, I started flipping channels.  There was a Men’s College Volleyball match on a Mexican station that I stopped on and watched for a bit.  The guys were huge.  The court could barely fit all of them and they were swinging very hard.  Somewhat like tennis, the women’s game is probably more watchable, because the men’s pure power game isn’t that entertaining.  (Of course, the looks don’t hurt either.  Volleyball girls also don’t distractingly grunt like the tennis girls.)  The Aggies have a tough match coming on Monday.  Hopefully, they’ll be okay on short rest.