Aggie Volleyball at the Wildcat Classic Invitational 9-21 to 22-19

Lovely Ashley Anselmo

The Aggies took to the road after a sobering Springhill Suites Invitational.  The girls would be playing three matches in under 24 hours.  One of the matches would be against host, Arizona, who had been ranked in the top 25 earlier this season.  Listening would also be a challenge.  The Aggies’ first game was early Friday afternoon and would conflict with the Aggie Soccer match I’d be going to. 

Their next game was at night, but I missed what was probably a colorful pregame while I was on the phone talking about the soccer match.  As much as I’d liked to have slept in Saturday morning, I had to get up promptly to hear their final match.  The good news was that I wasn’t driving back-and-forth to the Pan-Am Center and watching games between teams I didn’t really care about. 

Some more Ash couldn't hurt

9-21-19 NM State Aggies vs Sacramento State Hornets

I don’t know anything about the Hornets, other than they were going to be playing back-to-back games.  That seems kind of rude of the event organizers.  The Aggies would be playing twice today too, but much later in the evening.  There was a light crowd, but several Aggie fans were there. 

Set 1

The Aggies got off to a good start at 5-0 and forcing a Sac timeout.  Beautiful Megan Hart had a couple of kills and Ashley Anselmo had three.  Krysten Garrison was already having a rough game with a couple of errors.  The Challenge System was in place here.  The first challenge went the Aggies’ way.  Our comedy relief came when a Cat Kelly swing bounced off a Sac player and rebounded over the net for a kill.  I remember Savannah Davison being on the receiving end of something like that in Albuquerque (9-1-18). Freshman Katie Birtcil, who’s from Tucson, came in at the end of the set, which the Aggies took 25-19.     

Set 2: Aggies 1, Hornets 0

Aggie service and attack errors caused them to go down early.  Megan was keeping them in it with some kills, though she got blocked on one point, a rare occurrence.  She did get a kill on the next point.  Cat tied it at 8.  The Hornets got the lead back on the Aggies’ sixth service error.  I could hear Coach Jordan yelling over Adam Young’s microphone.  He was not pleased and started calling out the number of service errors with each one.  The coach took both his timeouts when the Aggies were down by 3, but the Hornets pulled away after that.  They lost it, 25-19, on their eighth service error.

Set 3: Aggies 1, Hornets 1

There was only a two-minute intermission, not a five-minute one.  Event organizers wanted to move this one along.  (That never works.)  The Aggies got off to a 4-0 start.  Sac St came back, mostly thanks to their star Sarah Davis (pictured left).  The Hornets tied it at 6, blocking Julianna Salanoa.  Sac St then went up by 2 with a lift called on Krysten.  The Hornets had their ninth service error at 14-11.  Katie got a kill at 17-14.  Krysten and Sav both made serve errors that got the coach screaming.  Natalie Mikels got an ace at 23-22 to close to within 1 point.  Sac St net served on their first set point, but took it in extra points, 26-24.

Set 4: Hornets 2, Aggies 1

This one was close to start.  Sac St went up 7-6 on another bad serve by Krysten.  Megan got her tenth kill at 8-8.  Nat put the Aggies up, 10-9, on another ace.  11-11, a net violation on Sac St ended a long rally.  This got a big cheer out of the Aggies.  They pulled ahead on a lift call on the Hornets.  Sac St challenged another call, but it went the Aggies’ way again.  16-15 Aggies, after the fourteenth Sac St serve error, Krysten committed her sixth.  Both teams traded service errors late.  Jordan George came in and had two good serves and a dig to help the Aggies force a fifth set.  25-20 Aggies.

Set 5: Hornets 2, Aggies 2

I was glad that the Aggies were still fighting, however this ran right into me leaving for Aggie Soccer against the Lobos.  Jordan G served early, but hit one out for Aggie serve error #17.   The Hornets kept up and had their seventeenth service error at 3-2 Aggies.  Adam thought the scoreboard was wrong on a later point.  He was later assured that it was correct, but not convinced.  The Aggies made their first challenge on a disagreement between the line judge and the up official.  They were denied.

I was still listening to the game on my portable radio after that, but I was in transit and walking into the soccer complex.  I couldn’t take any notes until I sat down, and I was doing it from memory.  The Aggies went ahead.  The Hornets’ Sarah Davis ran into the scorer’s table and was shaken up.  She came out of it getting 2 kills to tie it at 10.  From there, it went to extra points.  The Hornets took it on the third match point, 17-15 for the set and, 3-2 for the match,. 

The postgame interview with Coach Jordan was memorable.  After 19 service errors, he called the team, “Mentally weak.”  (Sac St had 17.  I’m sure their coach wasn’t happy either.)  Coach said he only had two reliable servers and wasn’t entirely sure about them.  I’m not sure which two players he was talking about.  I know which ones he’s not talking about being reliable.  Adam asked about tonight’s game against the Wildcats.  “We’re going to get crushed,” answered the coach.  In addition to some scoreboard issues, the AZ staff also screwed up the player stats.  Adam could only report that Megan Hart and Savannah Davison had double-digit kills. 

Ever Effervescent Brigette Lowe 

9-21-19 NM State Aggies vs Arizona Wildcats

I’d already had two disappointments today (the last game and Aggie Soccer’s loss).  Why not make it three?  I wish I could have heard the pregame.  Coach Jordan hopefully worked up a optimism for this match.  There was a good crowd of over 2000 there.  The Wildcat band was there.  They played rimshots whenever the Aggies had a service error.

Set 1

Freshman and Tucson native, Katie Birtcil, started, I think in Cat Kelly’s place.  Perhaps the coach wanted to give her a start in her hometown.  She got a block early, but did shank a couple of serve receives.  Senior Analyssa Acosta came in to serve early.  She got a surprise kill in the set on an overpass.  The Aggies kept it close and had their blocking working.  Beautiful Megan Hart had a kill to tie it at 16 as part of a 4-point run.  Cat Kelly came in late after Katie had made a couple of errors.  AZ went on a 5-point run to win it, 25-19.

Set 2: Wildcats 1, Aggies 0

AZ took an early lead again.  Coach Jordan won a challenge to get within a point.  The Aggies then tied it at 8 on a block.  9-9, Natalie Mikels had an out-serve.  That was the third team service error.  The Wildcats went up big again, but the Aggies closed back to within 3.  AZ surged again and were up by 6.  Cat made a solo block and then got a kill, but that was pretty much it for runs.  20-16, Arizona took this point on a net violation when Lia Mosher’s ponytail hit it.  The Wildcats took Set 2, 25-19.  They won it on a solo block of a Savannah Davison swing.

Set 3: Wildcats 2, Aggies 0

Analyssa was now in at libero.  I’m not sure if the coach was mad at Halle Razo, or just wanted to try Annie.  Brigette Lowe also came in to start.  Arizona was getting lucky on top of being good, as they got a kill on a freeball with a 3-2 lead.  The Aggies took the lead on Julianna Salanoa’s turn serving, after several AZ attack errors.  The score was then tied at 7 on Krysten Garrison’s second service error.  Katie came in and got her first kill at 10-8 Aggies. 

AZ tied it again at 12.  15-14 Aggies, Jordan George made a service error after being forced to re-serve when a ball rolled out on court.  That was the second time in the game for that.  The Aggies continued to hold the lead with some good blocking and a tip by Jules.  16-15 Aggies, Meg had a rare block of her swing.  17-15 Aggies, the coach won his second challenge on a pancake dig that actually hit the court.  Unfortunately this led to some confusion over who should be serving next.  After a couple of minutes, it was settled, and Krysten made her ninth service error of the day.  Freshman Autumn Gentry came in as the setter for her.  Arizona then went ahead, and the Aggies committed their tenth service error of the game.  The Wildcats won the set, 25-22, and match, 3-0.

Coach Jordan was almost conceding in the third set by playing reserves and freshmen, but they played pretty well.  He seemed a lot calmer than after this morning’s loss.  He called for more practice, especially serving practice on the girl’s part outside of team practice.  As Aggie Football Coach Doug Martin said the other day, “You don’t play better than you practice.”  One bright spot, Analyssa Acosta had a team-high 11 digs.  The coach was not surprised by the senior’s good play.

Sultry Analyssa Acosta?

I haven't seen that look on her before

9-22-19 NM State Aggies vs Alabama State Lady Hornets

Didn’t we just play the Hornets yesterday?  Actually, it’s worse than that.  When I first glanced at the schedule, I thought they were playing Arizona State.  Who would schedule a rivalry game for an invitational?  The AS head coach, Penny Lucas-White, has an impressive resume as a player.  She’s a former All-American and a US National team member.  The Lady Hornets are the best team in the SWAC.  However, that’s where Grambling plays, so take that with a grain of salt.

There was a small crowd there for the game, but it was mostly for the Aggies.  The Hornets players did seem louder though.  Adam Young seemed to be dreading this game for its early start time.  So was I.  I didn’t want to wake up early for it either.  The things I do for the volleyball girls.  Coach Jordan was doing this as a favor to Alabama State so they could make an early flight.  This was also the Aggies third game in less than 24 hours following two losses.

Set 1

Morgan Freedman was playing for the Lady Hornets.  Really.  It’s too early to care about making dumb jokes though.  Senior Analyssa Acosta was starting at libero.  This was her first start.  I’m happy for her.  I don’t know if Coach was sending a message to Halle Razo.  I don’t think she’s been the problem on the floor or serving. 

Krysten Garrison served out on her first serve.  I’m not sure why she’s still allowed to serve.  The Aggies went up early.  Cat Kelly, Lia Mosher, and beautiful Megan Hart combined on a block on Hornet’s all-time kill leader.  Savannah Davison made an out-serve.  Subbing for her on serve wouldn’t be the worst idea, but leave her out on the floor, she’s pretty much always the Aggie kill leader.  The Hornets blocked Julianna Salanoa to tie it at 9.   

The Aggies retook the lead.  The Hornets made another run, but the Aggies countered with one of their own.  Natalie Mikels had an ace at 13-9.  Ashley Anselmo followed that with a pair of kills.  Then Nat netted a serve.  Jordan Pleasants came in and out-served, but the Aggies continued to stay in the lead.  Ash had a solo block as Jules went on a 4-point serving run.  Ashley picked up her fifth kill.  She was on fire.  Krysten came back up to serve and aced to get it to set point.  Lia got her first kill to end it, 25-13.

Set 2: Aggies 1, Lady Hornets 0

The Hornets took a quick 6-1 lead and were attacking well.  Nat broke that up with a dump kill.  Meg got two kills and a solo block to help close the score.  Sav had a net serve, but Megan got another kill, and Annie went on a serving run that included an ace, which got the Aggies the lead. 

15-14 Aggies, Halle came in to serve and went on a run that included Ash getting her sixth kill.  She got her seventh right after a sideout.  Jordan P served and got an ace that hit the tape and fell over.  Late, Krysten came up to serve again.  Adam jinxed her saying she’d worked out her serving issues, just as she out-served.  She was setting well.  Sav, meanwhile, served one under the net.  The Hornets saved two set points, but the Aggies won it, 25-20.  Cat had a pancake dig on that last point.

Set 3: Aggies 2, Lady Hornets 0

The Hornets took a small early lead.  4-3 Hornets, Ash got her eighth kill.  The Aggies went on a 6-point run.  Ash and Meg combined on a block, and Megan got another kill after that.  With the Aggies in the lead, Sav had another net serve.  I’d say it’s mental.  Nat picked it up with an ace at 13-9.  14-10 Aggies, Cat’s kill hit a Hornets player in mouth.  The girl had to come out, probably with a fat lip. 

Megan was all over it.  She had a kill, a tip, and a block with Cat.  Brigette Lowe came in and got a kill late.  21-15 Aggies, there was a bad line call.  Coach Jordan didn’t challenge it and regretted it, as the Hornets went on a 4-point run.  22-18 Aggies, they took a long rally, as a Hornet player ran into her coach on the sidelines trying to save the last shot.  23-18, Nat got her third ace and made a great save another long rally on the next point.  The Hornets saved three match points with their reserves screaming the whole time.  They challenged a touch on the final point, but lost it.  Aggies took the set, 25-23, and the match 3-0.

In the postgame interview, Coach Jordan was pleased with the win, but unhappy.  The team went 9 to 6 in service errors to aces.  He called the team “lazy,” for not practicing serving enough on their own.  “They think they’re good at it,” he said.  The coach singled out Savannah Davison’s bad serving, but her and Cat Kelly both led with 11 kills.  Ashley Anselmo had 8, and Megan Hart had 7. 

Given the team’s mental and physical condition going into this invitational, it was going to be uphill regardless of the competition.  I wasn’t expecting too much.  I think they were definitely better physically.  They were also more coordinated like they were able to do some good full-team practices.  (Of course, this is what I was hearing on the radio.  I didn’t actually see the matches.) 

Mentally, I agree with the coach, there are some issues.  The coach felt that their early season success spoiled them.  The Aggies definitely beat themselves in the first game against Sac State.  They were pretty much overpowered in the second one against Arizona, but still had personal issues.  I think Coach Jordan kind of threw in the towel in the third set there.  The team came together reasonably well in the last game.  I’m not sure how good their opponent was though.  The serving issues continued. 

If a good team has a bad game, it’s on them.  If they keep having bad games, I think that’s on the coach.  This serving issue started against the Lobos a couple of weeks ago (9-7-19), and should have been properly addressed then.  He’s got to get them right on fundamentals.  I know there’s a lot to work on in practice, but you can’t leave some of this stuff up to “homework” for the girls’ off-time.  The good news is that there’s a whole lot of talent on this team.  It really shouldn’t be that hard to get them moving in the right direction.