NM State Aggies vs Abilene Christian Wildcats Volleyball 11-12-22

It was a busy day in Aggie Sports today.  First up was Aggie Football.  On the pregame, Jack Nixon wisely only asked Volleyball Coach Jordan about his seniors for their last home game.  He called Lia Mosher one of his best middle blockers ever, who was the “worst athlete.”  It was a compliment on her work ethic to be as good as she is without good jumping abilities.  The Coach also gushed on Kayleigh Thomas.  She’s been injured her whole career and probably wasn’t D1 material, but she’s been a great teammate.  Molly Johnson (graduate) and Katie Birtcil were also departing seniors garnering praise.

 

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the birds at the Bosque.  But I do have this pic of this "Raven Lunatic" shirt from the gift shop there.

On Friday, I was out-of-town on a trip with dad to visit the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge and to meet up with his old neighbor, Joe.  We saw the migration layover of a bunch of snow geese, cranes, and some ducks.  It was cool.  We also ate at what dad told me was the “World Famous Owl Bar and Café,” which dad had always meant to eat at since we’d moved to New Mexico nearly 50 years ago.  It was okay.  Maybe another time, we’ll try the “World Famous Buckhorn Tavern,” which is across the street from the Owl Bar.  It’s amazing that the little town of San Antonio, New Mexico has two world famous dinners.  (Actually, they are famous for their burgers, though I don’t really know why.  Maybe it’s a throwback to a time before Hatch Green Chili was a known brand.)

More importantly on Friday, Aggie Soccer played their NCAA tournament game against Mississippi State.  From seeing the recap later, MS took a one goal lead into the half.  Loma McNeese equalized the score late.  A no-chance header in the goal box in the final minutes gave MS the 2-1 win.  Praise from Jack, AD Mario Moccia, and football analyst Cory Lucas (who watched the game), was still effusive.  Mario hopes to keep Coach Baarts here (shown above hugging goalie Makenna Gottschalk after the game), though he will be in-demand by other schools. 

 

Ron and I arrived at the Pan-Am Center well early as usual.  The arena was prepped for some sort of show after the game.  There were two hanging screens, the north bleachers were pushed in, and the side tables were gone on one side.  I remembered to bring my radio this time and started listening to the football game.  The Aggies, with Diego Pavia starting at QB, was already up 14-0 on Lamar in the first quarter.  Ron mentioned that the Aggies’ mascot horse, Keystone, had died this week.  He’d been spooked early in the football season in his last appearance.  Pistol Pete needs a new horse for next season.      

 

Marketing Director Nicole Sack came by and said, “Hi,” to us.  I asked why there wasn’t an Autograph Day for Volleyball this season.  She didn’t know, but said to take a poster down to the floor after the game with a pen.  (I’m not that brave, but I really did want to say something positive to some of the girls.)  Beautiful former star, Megan Hart, was still here.  I really wonder what she’s doing now that she’s able to hang out in Las Cruces for several days.  (I still have her poster up at home.)  I think her friend and teammate, Kiley Tonge, was with her.  They were here to see off the seniors.  Pistol Pete was here and worked the crowd during the game.  The Cheerleaders were all busy at the football game. 

 

The ACU coach and staff were rather attractive.  I feel like this is becoming the norm for visiting teams.  There appeared to be seven players on staff.  Maybe a couple were injured players.  Actually, the best-looking staffer was the guy assistant coach, Jeff Fiorenza.  (And the women were really good-looking.)  This guy was big, strong, and handsome.  I don’t know if I’d trust pretty young athletic women around this guy.  They may be looking for “personal coaching” from him all the time.

 

Lia was looking really serious on court before the game, instead of her usual happy-go-lucky self.  She’s a sixth-year senior, so this last game had to be hard on her before it started.  It looked like a really good crowd considering the football competition next door.  Officially it was 403, but there had to be more than that.  During player introductions, Kayleigh was pushed out on to court with the starters with a souvenir ball to toss.  She looked so happy.  Meanwhile, Katie was announced as a junior.  That’s what says on the program and did say on the website.  This confusion has gone on all season. 

 

Set 1

This was ACU’s final game, but the Aggies needed to win to get into the WAC tournament.  At least they had their destiny in their own hands.  Set 1 began with kills spread among Lia, Molly, and Jayde Shelton.  Jayde and Lia teamed up on a block at 6-3 Aggies and did it again on the next point.  Diminutive Setter Rilen Garcia bear-hugged Jayde after the second one.  (I really wanted to say something encouraging to Rilen during autographs.) 

 

Katie got her first kill at 9-6.  However, the Aggies were back to having serving issues early.  Lia put the hammer down at 10-7 in her most memorable kill of the match.  (Meanwhile, the football team was up 30-0 in the second quarter.)  Ryleigh Whitekettle (a player I really wanted to praise in person) and Taylor Snow (and another one) combined on a block.  Ryleigh got her first kill at 13-8 off a block and then hit the backline on a kill.  (She’s our next star.  Mark it.) 

 

Rilen had an ace on serve at 15-9.  There was an ACU challenge on the next point on in or out.  The line judge was hit by the ball trying to get out of the way.  The call was upheld, but Rilen served out after the delay.  The Wildcats had a great three-player save at 16-10, a point they won.  (Meanwhile in football, the Aggies scored a touchdown on fourth down in the Lamar red zone to make it, 37-0.) 

 

ACU went on a run to make it 19-15, which included an ace.  Jayde broke that up with a slam that rebounded into the south bleachers.  Rylee Fay had another service error for the Aggies’ fifth total.  But Katie came back with a kill, 22-17.  The line judge had to jump out of the way of another shot down the line on the next point.  Molly put in another kill and her and Taylor had a block to finish the set off, 25-19.     

 

Set 2: Aggies 1, Wildcats 0

Ron asked me about the Wildcats’ libero’s height.  She was listed at 5’2”.  They had another listed at 5’3.”  Early on, Rylee had the sixth Aggie service error.  She’s a great server, but it seemed to be in her head right now.  Katie came back with an ace at 3-1.  3-4 ACU, Lia was blocked, but came with the same play on the next point to tool the block.  Talk about effort, Molly dove off-court for a save and then got back into position to get the kill at 6-5.  Molly and Jayde each teamed up with Taylor for a couple of blocks. 

 

Jayde got a touch kill to put the Aggies in front, 11-6.  ACU took a timeout.  12-8 ACU got a kill on the backline.  Katie wanted a challenge, but the coach considered it and didn’t do it.  ACU went on a run to close it to 12-11.  Katie took herself out on the previous point as the bandages on her hand got loose.  (Both of her hands were wrapped.)  ACU aced to tie it, but Lia broke up the run with a kill.

 

Katie came back in and got a kill.  Lia then dunked an overpass.  Rylee took something off her serve and got an ace.  16-12 and timeout ACU.  From here, Lia, Molly, and Katie had kills.  Katie also had another ace.  Jayde and Taylor had a block.  To a spontaneous “Let’s go Aggies” chant from the crowd, Katie finished it at 25-17.

 

Set 3: Aggies 2, Wildcats 0

On the sidelines, Kaylee Peterson and Rilen faked out Ashley Herman on a chest bump.  (Ashley I definitely wanted to talk to.  I see you working there on the sideline as a one-woman cheering section, Ash.)  ACU got out to a 2-3 lead off a hard block on Lia.  Molly came back with a couple of kills and Jayde and Taylor had two blocks on a point to make it 5-4 Aggies.  (Meanwhile, football was up 44-0.) 

 

6-5 ACU challenged a touch call.  During the break, Kaitlin Espiritu was popping to the Beastie Boy’s Intergalactic on the sidelines.  The call was upheld.  Aggie serving issues continued, but Katie kept pouring in the kills.  She served out at 11-8, but did her signature flying backcourt kill on the next point. 

 

There was a media timeout at 15-9.  The up official chatted with an ACU player on court.  It seemed like there was something on her back.  In any case, they were laughing.  (At the football game, Gavin Frakes was now in to give him some work.  51-0 Aggies.)  17-13, Molly and Katie tried to dig the same ball and neither got it, but Jayde, Ryleigh, and Katie came back with kills.  There was a great team effort on Katie’s kill at 20-13.  Timeout ACU and I could see flowers being delivered to the court.  Kayleigh on the sidelines was nervously stretching, hoping to come in.

 

(At the end of the third quarter in football, Lamar got on the scoreboard, 51-7.)  Ryleigh and Lia teamed up on another block.  At 22-14, both Kayleigh and Kaylee came in.  Coach does actually have a sense of humor.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t a great intro for either.  Kaylee was having trouble of digs and was pulled out.  Kayleigh missed a set.  She didn’t seem physically comfortable jumping with her leg in a brace.  23-19, Darian Markham served out, but on the next point, Molly fired one hard enough to send the ball into the stands.  Finally, Rilen ended it with an ace.  25-20 in Set 3 and 3-0 for the match to the Aggies.

 

For the stats, Katie Birtcil led all scorers with 10 kills and 2 aces.  Molly Johnson and Lia Mosher each had 8 kills.  Lia also added 5 blocks.  Jada Birkel led the Wildcats with 9 kills.  Overall, the Aggies were up 11 to 5 in blocks, 7 to 4 in aces, and up in hitting .304 to .058.  There was a regression in serving with 11 service errors.  Rilen Garica did have 3 aces.  And to think, Coach Jordan was making fun of her serve after her first appearance in a game.  The Aggies actually needed to win both of these last two matches to get into the tournament and they did so definitively.  Good job, ladies.       

 

Senior Day Ceremony

First and most importantly, Katie’s family brought her dog out on court and he completely stole the show.  She held him as everyone came by for a pet.  Pistol Pete and Morgan Stewart got a bunch of doggie kisses.  (Discerning pooch.)  AD Mario Moccia jetted over from next door football to be here.  (What great timing.)        

 

On the other side of the court, the ACU girls were gathered in a huddle, most crying.  This was the end of their season.  Their seniors were recognized first and there were a lot of them, so this was also probably their last college game.  The team didn’t stick around for the Aggies’ ceremony, but their coach did.

 

I wish I had taken out my ear buds with the football game, so I could have heard the ceremony better.  (Aggie Football did win 51-14.  They were playing their third-string quarterback in the final series.)  Kayleigh Thomas came out with her family (and two very hot sisters).  Her playing record was 1 kill.  I was there for that and felt so good for her.  Molly Johnson has the Aggie single game record for kills at 37.  Katie Birtcil had a bunch of accomplishments that I missed all of.  Lia Mosher, our sixth-year senior, finally let go on some tears and had many accolades that I also missed all of.

 

With some trepidation, Coach Jordan handed the girls a microphone.  Kayleigh started off well thanking everyone and then completely lost it as the moment hit her.  Molly was sorry that she only got to play here one year, but she’ll be back next year as a graduate assistant.  Katie and Lia spoke.  When Lia mentioned her former teammates, Megan gave her a heart from the stands.  The Coach had the last word, “These girls will successful in whatever they do next . . . except public speaking.”

 

I guess I should have charged the floor at that point and demanded my autographs, but discretion prevailed.  Ron and I were walking out when I suddenly noticed he wasn’t with me.  Ron was still lingering at the top of the stairs watching the girls on court.  Well, I suggested going to Dion’s and getting a Barbeque Chicken pizza, and I think that helped him get over the end of Volleyball season for us.

 

Later in the evening, ironman Jack Nixon went from calling football to calling Men’s Basketball in El Paso.  Unfortunately, it was not a clean sweep for Aggie Sports today, as they lost to UTEP, 67-64.  It felt like an undisciplined effort by the Aggies.  Though the final stats were really close, the Miners mostly dominated the game.  In the postgame interview, Coach Heiar apologized to Aggie fans for not being able to finish off the day with a win.