NM State Aggies vs UTRGV Vaqueros Volleyball 10-27-18

I’m going to break format here and say right up front that the Aggies lost this match in five sets to the Vaqueros.  I wouldn’t want to build up any false hope over the course of this narrative.  I’m still so disappointed over how the day went for Aggie Sports that I cannot fake enthusiasm for writing this out.

At least a couple things went right today.  Ron had sent a couple of missives during the week that he probably wouldn’t be going, but called Saturday morning and said he was ready for lunch.  Said lunch was courtesy of What-a-burger and a coupon from work.  It was delicious and we chatted about Babylon 5, which is being rerun on the Comet network. 

Anticipating a big crowd for this “Pack the Pan-Am” event, we arrived early.  The parking lot was already like for a normal crowd, so it was going to get bigger.  The next door parking lot was also busy with several busses, which were disgorging marching band members and flag corps.  Ron remembered that the “Battle of the Bands” was going on at the nearby football stadium. 

Okay, so we had three busy events going on right next to each other on the NMSU campus.  The third event was Senior Day for the final Aggie Soccer game, which would be well-attended.  The volleyball match was going to overlap with the soccer unless one of the teams was real efficient in winning.  Since there aren’t any lights at the soccer field, there’s a hard start time at this time of year that would be the latest they could get in a match.  The Vaqueros were both teams’ opponents, so their teams are likely traveling together.  This being the case, why not move up the start time of the volleyball match an hour to accommodate the fans wanting to go to both?  They even announced at the volleyball match that your ticket would get you into both events.  Quite a deal if you got a free ticket.

And there were a lot of those free tickets.  Aggie marketing had sold 10,500 at $1 apiece to a bunch of local businesses (including my own) and some individuals.  Many were donated back so that the university could give them away to the Boys and Girls Club and such.  They weren’t expecting all the tickets to be used, which would have put fans up in the rafters, but were hopeful for about a 10% return. 

They got a bit more than that at nearly 2,500 announced, which was well more than double their usual attendance.  In the pregame (actually in several pregames), Coach Jordan still gets misty-eyed over having 7,000 come to a game versus Hawaii (which they lost).  This time, he explained why though.  When he started here 20 years ago, they were getting 300 to 400 for games and now they’re in the top 50 nationally in attendance.  (At 7,000 a game, they’d be number one.)   

The Pan-Am Center was prepared for a crowd.  They’d opened up another concession stand, the one with the grill.  I’d cursed myself that I’d just eaten and wouldn’t be able to finally try an Aggie Burger.  (I’m sure it’s nothing special, not better than a What-a-burger, but still I want to try one.)  Actually, they weren’t cooking today, except for hot dogs, so it didn’t matter.  There were a couple of lemonade and nut vendors up front.  I quickly picked up a bag of cinnamon-roasted almonds.  After the match, I was tempted to get one of those good-looking lemonades too, but I was pretty sure the ice was melted.

The Aggie girls seemed to be in a pretty good mood warming up.  They stopped to take a group picture with a high school team.  Cat Kelly now had left side hair braids like Natalie Mikels.  Maybe they’ll all be wearing that by the end of the season.  Lia Mosher and Jordan George looked like they were off their scooters.  Last year, this match up (10-21-17) was the game where Hannah Combs was injured (which is an understatement), but they had won.  They’d also won a couple of weeks ago at UTRGV in five sets.

On the other side, #2 Barbara Silva was back with the Vaqueros.  She was one of my favorite opposing players last year and is my favorite Brazilian player.  I’d noticed #5 Talita Oliveira last year because she was so thin and bit hunchbacked.  She seemed a bit healthier-looking this year.  Being so tall, Talita was a blocker in this game, but she didn’t seem to have the strength to attack well. 

UTRGV’s entire roster is either from Texas or an international student.  They were a pretty good-looking group, in addition to playing well.  #11 Antonela Jularic was particularly pretty with long red-ish blonde hair.  The girls even have their last names on the back of their uniforms.  On that matter, PA Ed was fired up today announcing.  During player introductions though, even he stumbled over one of the girl’s last names.  (I think it was eastern European.)  The girl laughed it off.

Set 1

The crowd was still coming in after the start of the match.  It was definitely larger than usual, but not crowded to the point of being uncomfortable.  No one was running the stats on the scoreboard again, but we did have Adam Young on the radio call. 

The Vaqueros took an early 2-1 lead after a foot fault was called on Savannah Davison doing a jump serve.  I couldn’t believe I saw two of those called in the last match (10-20-18).  I attributed it to some nerves in front of the big crowd against a good opponent.  Julianna Salanoa tied it up on an overpass dunk.  The set went point-for-point, though the Aggies were missing on several of their attacks.  Again, it seemed like some nerves.  Savannah was allowed to serve again and she kept with the jump serve to better success.

10-10 the Aggies made an awesome save on a tip (I wasn’t able to note the player at the time) and Ashley Anselmo got the kill.  Beautiful Megan Hart got a great overpass kill, which started a run.  15-11 Captain Tatyana Battle got the kill going into a media timeout.  The crowd went insane for a cheerleader t-shirt toss into the seats.  It was a good-looking one today.  The crowd was still coming in to this point.

19-13 Sav got the kill and the Vaqueros took a timeout.  The Aggies were the first to 20 with a block by Sav and Jules.  The crowd and Adam loved it.  (I noticed that Julianna apparently goes with Jules, so I’ll start using it.)  21-13 Megan had had net serve earlier, but put in an ace here.  22-16 Jules broke up a run with a kill.  22-18 the Vaqueros were making a comeback.  Ashley slapped a ball in frustration.  Timeout Aggies. 

Adam got the groaner of the match with his “Handful of double touches” comment.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t a joke.  Both teams were getting called for it over-and-over.  23-19 right after being called for a DT, Sav crushed a kill.  The Aggies got it to set point, but that was our last Aggie highlight for the set.  Gysell Zayas came up to serve, as the Vaqueros clapped along, and dropped in two aces.  24-22 timeout Aggies.  24-24 a third ace.  What happened next seemed almost inevitable by this point.  The Vaqueros took the set 26-24. 

Zayas went on a 7-0 run with the Aggies holding set point the whole time.  Choke or clutch?  Whatever.  It wasn’t as bad as Hannah’s injury last year, but it was still shocking.  It cast a pall over the crowd and the team for the rest of the game. 

Set 2: Vaqueros 1, Aggies 0

I noticed that pretty long-haired red head in the Aggie booster section again.  She even got her picture in the paper on Sunday, so it’s not just me noticing her.  On court, I didn’t notice at first, but Savannah was out for the set.  Sav has played every set and nearly every point, only getting taken out for serving sometimes.  She’d had a rough first set with errors.  Sav, given that this is her first year playing, has had plenty of shaky moments on court, but normally made up for it with her kills.  Her problems seem more mental than physical.  Taking out your second leading scorer, especially against a tough opponent, was a risky move.  Savannah was clearly unhappy on the sidelines.

Briana Ainsworth started off the set with an ace.  Jules added a kill at 4-3 Aggies.  Taty increased the lead to 5-3.  Cat, who’d had a career game against the Vaqueros two weeks ago, had a four-point run on serve.  I hadn’t seen her serve before (according to the stats, she hasn’t been).  7-4 libero Halle Razo served up an ace.  9-5 Brigette Lowe entered the game.  I keep hoping to see her breakout like she did last year.  With Sav out, this would have been a good spot for it, but she was cycled right back out.

10-5 Aggies as Meg slapped down a kill.  Timeout Vaqueros.  13-6 UTRGV was called for a double touch.  I don’t know how many there’s been to this point.  It’s the DT match.  13-7 Ragni Knudsen got the kill on this point.  She’s the Vaqueros’ star player from Norway.  To this point, she’s gotten just about all their kills.  This point was also memorable as Coach Jordan argued that UTRGV was out-of-rotation on their serve.  He sent Taty over to argue with the up official.  She’d get a monster kill on the next point anyway.

15-8 Cat put in a sneaky tip.  The Aggies get two more points on yet another DT and a block.  Timeout Vaqueros and the crowd went nuts for a hat toss into the stands.  21-9 was one of the few long points of the match, which Jules ended on a hard kill.  22-10 Jules and Taty combined on a block.  The Aggies had no trouble taking this one 25-13.

Set 3: Aggies 1, Vaqueros 1

Anticipating this match going longer, I went to the bathroom.  I managed to drop my notes and nuts (almonds that is) into a spilled pool of water (and thankfully I knew it was water) right before I left.  I missed a troop of little girls performing for halftime.  There were quite a few kids in attendance.  I passed over grabbing a poster at the courtesy table thinking there’d be a bunch of takers today.  There were.  There were a few young fans waving the volleyball posters whenever Bri or Taty came up to serve.

Savannah was still on the bench for Set 3.  Brigette would cycle back in early.  1-1 Megan was blocked on a low set.  UTRGV was not known as a good blocking team, until today.  7-5 Vaqueros Barbara Silva went on a serving run.  10-6 the Vaqueros dropped in an ace, prompting an Aggie timeout.  Again, the crowd went wild for another t-shirt toss. 

Down 11-8, Bri saved a dump shot and Cat got the kill on the point.  The Aggies continued to stay behind, but kept it close.  Jules got another kill and combined with Ashley on a block.  15-11 Vaqueros, Meg was blocked again.  I think they scouted her out well, because they’re not that tall.  On the next point, Savannah came back in.  I’d seen her talking to the coach earlier. 

Unfortunately, the Aggies fell further behind and took a timeout at 17-12.  Sav wasn’t finding her footing and had a net violation and a netted a serve.  She came back out and Brigette was back in.  Megan got a kill at 20-13 Vaqueros, but the team looked down anyway.  The Aggies went on a run with Tatyana on serve.  Brigette, Cat, and Taty got kills.  Timeout Vaqueros at 20-16. 

The Aggies had gotten their last point on a phantom touch.  Yet another DT gave UTRGV a point back right after.  Trailing 21-18 Cat got another big kill.  21-19 Jules got a massive overpass slap.  The crowd roared and a Vaqueros player got yellow carded for hitting the net afterward.  The Aggies closed to 21-20 on a Cat and Jules’ block.  Timeout UTRGV.  Cat was all over it and kept the Aggies in it with a couple more big kills, but the Vaqueros took the set on an overpass kill, 25-22.

Set 4: Vaqueros 2, Aggies 1

About a third of the crowd got up and left en mass before the start of this set.  Some went to the concessions and bathroom, but the rest apparently had somewhere to be at 4:00.  The Vaquero reserves were dancing to the Macarena.  The Aggies were all huddled around the coach.  It was an interesting contrast.

Savannah was back out to start Set 4 serving and not using the jump serve this time.  She picked up the first two points of the set on kills.  4-3 Aggies, the Vaqueros won the point, but Halle had two diving saves.  7-4 Meg got an overpass block.  8-4 Megan and Cat combined to block Knudsen on a shot, which didn’t happen a whole lot in this match.  9-4 Megan got a tip kill and the Vaqueros took a timeout.

“I’m getting exhausted just watching,” I said to Ron.  13-7 Sav went back to the jump serve.  The ball hit the net and dropped over for an ace.  But the Vaqueros came back with Barbara Silva on serve and got it to 14-13.  The Vaqueros were flat-out out-blocking the Aggies.  Cat hammered a pair of points to get the lead back 17-14.  20-19 Jules and Sav combined on a block.  Sav got a kill at 21-16 on a great set by Halle to force a UTRGV timeout. 

22-18 Jordan Pleasants came in to serve.  The Vaqueros took the point and Jordan cycled out.  The coach ripped on her as she got to the bench, and Jordan just walked away.  It didn’t seem like a bad serve and she wasn’t involved in the rest of the point, so the reaction seemed unwarranted.  It was an ugly moment.  24-21 was a hard fought epic point for the Aggies.  Two of Knudsen’s shots got dug out to keep the point going.  That was impressive.  Because she was hitting the ball so hard and getting fed the ball so often, very few of the points in the match were going long.  That said, Taty finished the set on the hardest hit ball of the match, 25-23.  The crowd roared for the team.

Set 5: Aggies 2, Vaqueros 2

“Okay Ron, it’s nearly 4:00.  Let’s go to the soccer match,” I said jokingly.  “Hell, no!” was Ron’s reply.  Ashley got the set started with a kill.  Halle put in an ace and Megan and Cat got kills for an early 5-2 lead.  5-3 Taty netted her serve.  Were I the coach, I’d cycle her out on serve in situations like this.  She’s done that too many times.  Knudsen got a kill and an overpass kill tied the score at 5.  Timeout Aggies.  Back in play, Barbara Silva served one out, so the bad serving was contagious.

Kundsen drove in another kill to tie it at 7.  Savannah hit three of the next four points out (two on kills, one on serve).  Ashley got a kill in the middle of that and another to bring the score to 10-9 Vaqueros.  She combined with Megan on a block to tie it at 10.  The team was called for a net violation next, but tied it again with Meg and Taty on a block at 11.  Barbara Silva and Cat traded kills for the next four points, but the Vaqueros got to 14 first.  UTRGV won it on match point #1 with a tip, 15-13 and 3-2.

If Coach Jordan had any hair to pull out, it would have been gone after looking at the match statistics.  He was mad in the postgame interview and little wonder.  The Aggies had 20 more kills and lead in most of the stats.  The ones they trailed in were aces by one and blocks by six.  Given how well the Aggies blocked in their last match, it was unbelievable.    

Ragni Knudsen led all scorers with 21 kills.  Barbara Silva was second with 11.  That was pretty much it for the Vaqueros.  Everything went through Knudsen.  The Aggies had three girls in double figures.  Cat Kelly led with 18.  Adam said that there was something specific she was doing that was giving UTRGV trouble, but I can’t remember what it was and I didn’t write it down at the time.  Regardless, she had a great game.  Tatyana Battle had 15 and 10 digs.  Megan Hart had 10.  Savannah Davison had 9 and Julianna Salanoa had 8.  So, the Aggies had no trouble getting production from several players.

Where the stats hurt was in attack errors.  The Aggies were 34 to 23 in errors.  Savannah had nearly as many errors than kills.  Were the Aggies playing more tight with the large crowd there?  Sav had a really rough first set.  Taking her out for the second set worked, but the Aggies were missing their number two scorer by Set 3.  She had good moments after that, but also played tentative and was finally was overplaying by the end. 

I can tell Sav is very competitive and intense (even among a team of girls who are the same), but her playing abilities go hot and cold, lacking a full season of experience.  I remember Jordan Abalos fearlessly taking bad shot after bad shot, but the coach would stick with her as she would invariably finish with double the kills than errors.  She was also always an asset on defense, which made it hard to take her out of a game.  If Savannah can be that kind of defensive player, I think everything else would fall into place. 

Right now, I’m not sure if the coach should have stuck with Savannah after the first set, or if he should have left her on the bench for the rest of the match.  I don’t think it helped her psyche to have gotten pulled twice in the match.  Maybe it motivates her for the next match, but it didn’t get a win here, which was the only thing that mattered.

I suspect Savannah is the type of player that isn’t going to do well coming on and off the bench.  You might have to either play her the whole time or not at all.  I wouldn’t want another controversy on the team over who’s playing, like what happened with the libero position, but Cat Kelly seems like the better player right now, but that might only apply to this particular opponent.  Ashley Anselmo is really good, but I think she’s limited in playing time because of nagging injuries.  The coach was really high on freshman Krysten Garrison, but she may be red-shirted. 

 

Overall, the Vaqueros won because they played better as a team than the Aggies and were able to execute their game plan.  With Cal-Baptist losing today, the Aggies could have had a share of first, but instead dropped to fourth place.  The Aggies 20-game home winning streak was snapped.  Almost worse, this all happened in front of their largest crowd of the season.  I think they’ll get some new fans out of this, but for the most part, newcomers probably came away saying, “Typical Aggies,” that incredibly frustrating local anti-provincialism against NMSU teams. 

I suspected this match would go long and it did.  There wasn’t much time for reflection after the match.  Ron and I wouldn’t arrive at the next door soccer match until it was half done.  The last time I saw Aggie Volleyball have a bad loss (10-29-16), I got a pickup from a soccer win right after.  There would be no such luck today.