Borderland Invitational NMSU vs UTEP Volleyball 9-8-19

NMSU Aggie Savannah Davison

Captain?

I started off this match out-of-breath.  Me and both teams were in the same condition by the end, but for a different reason.  I had just arrived at the Pan-Am Center after a forced march from the soccer field.  Somewhere I’d lost my backup pen in transit.  Embarrassingly, I retraced my steps back to the soccer field after the match looking for it.  (Leave no pen behind!)  I may have dropped it back at the soccer stadium, which was locked up.  In any case, I was a little nervous only having one pen that I’d already used a bunch this season (though it was new with a nice grip on it).  I’d hated to have run out of ink documenting this match.

My first stop in the building was to the bathroom.  I had to try and wash off the sweat and sunblock.  I’m sure I had a musky aroma, but there wasn’t much I could do about it.  I was sitting with Danny and Mike anyway.  I’m sure they could care less.  I found my seat just as the Aggie girls were coming out in uniform for their game against the UTEP Miners. 

Adam Young and Kelsi Meredith were below doing the TV coverage.  Tatyana Battle, Aggie great and current UTEP graduate assistant, walked by on court flashing a smile at everyone.  I smiled and waved back, but I don’t think she saw me.  Andrea Beaty, another UTEP assistant that I’d noticed yesterday, had her snow white blonde hair tied back and was wearing a red paisley dress.  In spite of the friendly look, she was still ferocious while giving her players instructions.        

The crowd was maybe a bit less than last night (attendance was 1,400 to 1,200 tonight in the stats).  The NMSU students weren’t here today, but there was a large section of green-shirted high schoolers.  Danny identified them as the Cloudcroft Volleyball team.  There were a lot of young girls present, so there were probably a lot more volleyball players from other local teams.  I noticed Women’s Basketball Coach Atkinson sitting on the floor level with her young son.  There was a sizeable presence of UTEP fans, who made the short trip up the road to Las Cruces.  It turned out that the parking lot was actually more full than last night, which made leaving a mess (not for me, I was out looking for a pen while the lots cleared). 

PA Ed Carnathan read a nice statement before the Anthem expressing solidarity with El Paso after the shooting there last month.  He had an unexpectedly hard time with the Miner player introductions, especially since he’d done them yesterday.  Ed specially introduced UTEP Coach Ben Wallis and Taty to the applause of everyone in the crowd.  They waved and smiled.  After the Aggie introductions, Coach Jordan and Wallis embraced.  Ben rubbed Jordan’s bald head.  Coach Jordan then went over and gave Taty a big hug.  That’s the last of the friendliness for this match.

Set 1

Get ready.  The action came fast and furious for the whole match.  UTEP started off with a block on Savannah Davison 1-0 UTEP.  The Aggies tied it up as Natalie Mikels set Ashley Anselmo from her knees for a kill.  UTEP retook the lead on a double touch call on the Aggies.  Get ready to hear that call a lot.  UTEP blocking and hitting past Aggie blocks gave them a 4-1 lead.  They increased it with an ace to 6-2. 

Sav got a kill at 6-3 UTEP on some shaky passing.  I wonder if the Aggies were playing tighter than the Miners up to this stage, but were into it now.  6-4, beautiful (as always) Megan Hart got her first kill on an overpass.  6-5, Sav served up an ace.  7-6, Lia Mosher got a solo block and Meg came up with a kill.  Libero Halle Razo made a great save off a block and Julianna Salanoa killed it to tie it at 7.  She came back with a power kill at 9-8 UTEP.

UTEP was subbing a lot here.  Coach Wallis was taking a page out of Coach Jordan’s playbook and it was working.  10-9 UTEP, Cat Kelly got her first kill down the line.  Sav tied it again at 10 on a tip.  However, after several attack errors, UTEP was back in the lead, 14-10.  Timeout Aggies.  Up on the video board, they showed Taty’s smiling self, though she didn’t know it.

Savannah came back with a kill at 14-11 and a tip at 14-12.  But, another DT call put the Miners up 17-13.  Sav had a mishit to make it 18-13.  Timeout Aggies.  18-14, Meg got a kill on a touch going out.  Kiley Tonge made her first appearance serving.  20-16, Lia got a push tip kill.  Timeout UTEP.  Pistol Pete was out on court with the Cheerleaders.  He fist-bumped one of the refs. 

21-16, Halle made the first of many net serves for both teams of the game.  21-17, Cat got another kill.  22-17, the Aggies were called for four touches.  22-18, Jules got a cross-court kill.  24-19, Cat saved set point #1 with a kill.  24-20, Sav held off #2 with a kill, but UTEP prevailed 25-20.  It was NMSU’s first dropped set of the season.  We were in for fight now.

Set 2: Miners 1, Aggies 0

The Aggies got off to a quick 3-0 start on a Savannah tap, a Sav and Lia block, and a Miner DT.  Sav had an out-serve at 4-2.  The Miners closed to 4-3, as they were blocking and digging Megan’s swings well in the match.  Cat increased the Aggie lead to 5-3 on a tap.  6-5, Natalie had an out-serve.  7-5, Cat got another kill on a bad set even.  8-5, Halle and Cat had a great digs, and Sav had an off-court dig and finished the point with a kill.  11-7, Krysten Garrison hit the UTEP libero, who was trying to dodge the ball, for an ace.  12-8, Lia and Sav combined on a block.  13-8, UTEP had a DT and took a timeout.

15-8 Aggies, Halle went into the courtside seats for a dig.  The Miners had an attack error to end the point.  15-10, UTEP dunked on Krysten behind her back at the net, but out-served on the next point.  18-13, Sav was stuffed on a point, but came back on the next point by painting the back corner.  20-14, this was the first long rally of the match.  Sav powered through a block for the kill.  Timeout UTEP at 21-14, after a Megan kill.  The Cheerleaders danced to a Mexican song on court and did a good job.  23-16, UTEP whiffed on swing.  24-16, Sav served a moonshot ace.  25-16, the Aggies took Set 2.

Set 3: Miners 1, Aggies 1

This set started badly as Halle made a set that dropped untouched on the Aggie side of the net, 1-0 UTEP.  Coach Jordan buried his head in his hands.  The Miners got a tip between two blockers at 2-2.  3-2 Aggies, Ashley rolled a cross-court kill down the tape.  Tied at 4, Natalie had the play of the match.  A bump pass went towards the net.  Nat made like she was about to set it and then ducked, as it dropped over the net for a kill.  She was grinning as she was subbed off the court. 

UTEP tied it again at 5 on a dump shot.  Tricky for tricky.  The Miners tied it again at 7.  The Aggies made several saves, including one by Sav way off the court.  The Miners and Aggies traded service errors.  The Aggies tied it at 10 on a UTEP net serve, but the Miners took a 12-10 lead on a serve that dropped in after hitting the tape.  The Aggies tied it again at 12 as Ash buried one into a defender, and Sav had a solo block.  UTEP retook the lead, but another service error kept the Aggies in it.  15-13, after an Aggie DT, there was a media timeout.

Looking around the stands, I suddenly noticed that gorgeous assistant that had been with the team a couple of years ago.  Oh, was she a distraction on the sidelines.  I never found out her name.  I never found her listed anywhere.  I would have asked Adam about her if the opportunity had come up.  I don’t know how he concentrated doing the radio pregame with her shapely rear end right in front of him watching the team warmup.  In any case, she had a baby with her, so no point in asking about her now. 

18-13 UTEP, the Miners increased their lead as a serve hit the backline.  Timeout Aggies.  Back on court, Sav was yelling at her teammates, presumably telling them to pay attention.  With that, she hit a kill hard enough to bounce into the stands.  Meg got a kill at 19-15, but Halle net-served and UTEP aced to make it 21-15.  Timeout Aggies.  At 24-15, Autumn Gentry subbed in.  UTEP seemed to win it on the next point and PA music started playing.  And then it stopped.  The refs waved off the point for a UTEP foul.  Ash and Jules combined on a block, but the Miners closed it out 25-17 and took a 2-1 lead in sets.

Set 4: Miners 2, Aggies 1

The Aggie coaches did not talk to the players during the break.  They went over to a table and poured over a piece of paper, which they then turned over to the down official.  I’d never noticed this before, but I’m sure happens all the time.  I’m guessing they were going over the player rotation and who to sub in.  There was some serious deliberation going on.  I think Coach Wallis was doing the same, as he wasn’t talking to his players much either. 

The teams were standing around in a huddle to talking to each other.  I couldn’t see the starters from where I was to say if it was a serious strategy talk.  The UTEP reserves danced around a bit to stay loose.  Savannah shouted at the team when they got back on court.  Somehow, it’s not an Aggie timeout without somebody yelling at the team.

It was a good talk.  The Aggies rolled off five points to start the set.  This included four blocks, with Megan in on all of them, and a kill by Cat.  Natalie’s serving run ended with a net-serve, but it was a good run.  6-1 Aggies, Meg gave a Miner player a facial.  7-1, UTEP got a block and celebrated, but the Aggies managed to save it and win the point.  UTEP came back with an ace at 7-3, but there was Megan again with a kill into the center of the court on the next point. 

Syenna Masaki, UTEP’s ace server came in, and closed the score to 8-7Aggies.  Jules broke the run on a kill at 9-7, but Krysten had a service error on the next point.  10-8, Jules had a kill hard enough that it deflected up into the stands near me.  12-9, Cat put one into Syenna’s face with a kill.  Syenna had no reaction, so no harm done.  12-10, there was a way out UTEP shot that was ruled a touch.  The crowd got angry.  The score was tied at 12 on another touch.  13-12 Aggies, off a bad set, Meg put in a little pat for a kill.  14-12, Ash with a solo block.  15-13, Meg slap kill.  Media timeout.     

Mike had offered to pick up Danny’s coffee at the concessions earlier.  I didn’t even conceive that you could remote order concessions here.  Mike came back a long time later and said the line to register went way down the concourse.  The coffee was delivered cold.  During this break, one of the ladies from the concessions came over and personally delivered a fresh cup of coffee to Danny.  Wow, that’s service.  (I like the concessions people, but the food is still very questionable.  They need better quality and selection.) 

17-13 Aggies, Cat added to the lead while serving.  On this point, UTEP was called for a pre-serve foul.  What is this foul?  I’ve never seen this happen before this weekend.  Timeout UTEP.  I think there were some football players up in the grandstand on the north end.  They were getting into it with the cheering on every point.  19-13, Sav bruised a defender with a kill.  22-14, UTEP made a couple of attack errors and took their other timeout.  Pete shared a laugh with a line official during the break.  23-14, Jules powered a shot through the Miner blockers.  Sav got a kill to get it to set point.  She finished it with a dunk that the Miners didn’t even move on.  The Aggies took Set 4, 25-15, and tied it at two sets each.

Set 5: Miners 2, Aggies 2

Once again, the Aggie girls talked to each other while their coaches conferred.  In spite of the tension, quite a bit of the crowd had thinned.  The game had run long and perhaps these people wanted to see the start of the Cowboys game.  I was kind of glad a UTEP fan and his three girls in front of me had left.  He was a bit annoying, not that bad, but an empty seat was preferable.

Jordan Pleasants was out to serve for the Aggies.  Savannah got the first point with a kill into the center of the court.  UTEP saved one of their own shots off the net, but Sav got a kill on that point too.  3-0 Aggies, Cat made an incredible one-hand dig and Meg killed it for the point.  At 4-0, the Miners took a timeout.  Jordan P net-served it out of the break.  The Aggies got back on serve, but Krysten out-served at 5-3.  UTEP did the same at 6-3.  Kiley came in to serve.  7-4, the Miners hit out and hit Aggie Assistant Coach Hertel on the sidelines.  After an attack error by Cat, it was 7-6, and the Aggies took a timeout.

8-6 Aggies, Jules and Lia blocked it out, but UTEP got a kill at 9-7.  11-8, Jordan P came back in to serve, but the Miners got a kill at 11-9.  Sav had an attack error to get UTEP back within one, but they out-served to put the Aggie lead back to two.  13-10, a kill by Savannah.  Timeout UTEP.  14-10, Megan slapped in a kill.  Finally, a UTEP attack error ended the match.  The Aggies took Set 5, 15-10, and the match 3-2.  Whew!

I think this rivalry just got real.  Coach Wallis definitely learned well from his time with Coach Jordan.  UTEP went 1-2 in five-set matches this weekend.  That has to be exhausting and disappointing, but they took the Aggies to the mat.  When they got ahead in this match, they were able to keep the Aggies from coming back.  Wallis had them game-planned really well. 

For his part, Coach Jordan was infuriated with his players afterward.  They weren’t blocking like they were capable of, but the serving really angered him.  Last match, he was okay with service errors, because the in-serves were good.  This time, they were getting more serves in, but they were too easy to receive, allowing UTEP to set their offense “in system,” as they say.  Assistant Coach Rubio, on the Aggie Coaches Show, said that the girls were a bit emotional playing against their former coach.    

I don’t know if Savannah Davison is the team captain, but she sure acts like it.  She led with 19 kills.  At times, I felt like she was just willing them to win.  Megan Hart (12 kills) might have been a bit quiet in the first three sets, but really came on and turned the tide in the fourth.  Cat Kelly (12 kills) has been a steady force.  Ashley Anselmo, Julianna Salanoa, and Lia Mosher (Rubio said they didn’t work her into the offense enough today) are always offensive and blocking threats.  Krysten Garrison is still learning, but coming along well.  I hope Natalie Mikels or somebody can come along and be the ace/long run server.  This team was shown to be mortal today, but can still overwhelm opponents with their talent.   

I dithered about what to do afterward, but finally decided I needed to go for groceries, which allowed me to go to the Arby’s next to Wal-Mart.  It was a pricey solo meal with an Arby Melt, curly fries, and a big chocolate and salted caramel cookie.  (I’m developing an addiction to salted caramel.)  It was totally excellent.  I even thanked them for the meal.  (They were pleased with the compliment.)  I called my parents and Ron walking over and while eating, since I had a flip phone from work with me.  I felt really bad for Ron, as some remodeling for his caretaking job had kept him from coming to any of the games.  He’d really missed a great one today.    

NM State Aggies vs Texas State Bobcats Soccer 9-8-19

 Jess McDow and Kyleigh Cox

I have to start with an apology on this one.  This is only half a recap.  It’s not my fault (I say quickly shifting the blame.)  I don’t know why the Aggie Athletics Department scheduled this match an hour before the Aggie Volleyball match against rival UTEP.  It seems to me they could have set the time of the soccer at least an hour earlier to accommodate fans (like me) who wanted to see both.

I also have incomplete recaps of Aggie Soccer’s last two road games.  They lost in Idaho 4-0 to Boise State, whom the Aggies have played here (9-9-18).  At the same site, they then beat Idaho State, 2-1.  So far, the Aggies’ four goals have been scored by four different players.

While I was waiting to leave, NBC finally decided to show a NASCAR race instead of putting it on cable.  Of course, I couldn’t watch more than the opening laps.  Rangers baseball on the radio was canceled for an NFL game.  And, Mexican TV wasn’t showing any MLB this weekend either.  I called Ron and he was unable to come today again.  Oh, well.  Not everything works out. 

I parked by the Pan-Am Center and walked over to the Soccer Complex.  It took six minutes.  I timed it.  It was important to know long it would take me to get back for the volleyball game.  There was a smell of burning plastic when I got there.  I should mention it was over 95 degrees with humidity.  Perhaps my umbrella was melting.  There were clouds in the distance, but that wasn’t going to help for this upcoming hour in the sun. 

I had the umbrella partly in case I got rained on later, like yesterday, but mostly for shade.  I left my seat and cushion at home, figuring an hour on the metal seats wasn’t worth the weight to carry them.  So, it was extra uncomfortable sitting there.  After collecting a program and a cup of courtesy water (thank God), I went to the grandstand.  It was just short of nearly deserted.  Between the heat, the volleyball conflict, and the NFL starting up this weekend, this wasn’t entirely unexpected.  I think it was me, Aggie parents, and several Texas State Bobcat fans.

Actually, there may have been more of them than Aggie fans.  Like their Softball fans (2-16-19), Bobcat fans had a cheer to start the match.  Both teams were in slightly different shades of crimson during warm-ups, but the Aggies changed to their whites for the match.  There were no kids available as ball boys and girls.  Neither were there Aggie Softball players, freshman Aggie Volleyball players, or Aggie Volleyball assistant coaches available.  (Check here to get the joke.)  Some Aggie Sports Marketing interns were drafted.  They were not clearly not thrilled.  They didn’t sign up for this crap on a hot, sweaty day.  A few fans, some with dogs (including a couple of cute wiener dogs), were seated under the trees at the north end of the field.  They, at least, looked cool in the heat.

First (and only) Half (for this recap)

I am too taking this seriously.  I got two-and-half pages of notes here.  I actually thought I’d only be devoting a paragraph to this as part of my volleyball recap.  I overwrote.  Right before the opening kick.  Aggie Hannah Leitner waved from the field to a friend that had just come in.  Hey, they do notice people in the stands. 

The Aggies started off aggressively and got a corner kick at 43’ left in the half.  Unfortunately, there wasn’t a whole lot of Aggie offense after that for a while.  It was quiet enough in the stands (from the lack of fans) to hear Dmitri Fong in the Aggie goal barking orders to the team.  That’s the Dmitri we all love.  (How bad was the crowd?  I don’t even think her mom was there.)  We could also hear Coach Baarts yelling at her and the other players from the other side of the field.  Like I said, quiet.  The parents of the girls did shout out some encouragement, which wasn’t as obnoxious as it has been some years.

42’ here was a wakeup call.  Dmitri kicked out a ball that flew right into the stands about four feet from me.  The ball hit the edge of the benches and bounced right back on field.  That kick had some heat on it.  The Bobcats had a couple of corners at 40’ and 39’, which was keeping Dmitri busy.  What looked like a tweener girl came in with a friend.  She had two huge tats on her arm, nearly a full sleeve.  Does this chick have no parents?  (I thought there was a legal age limit for getting tattoos, or was I misjudging her age?)     

38’ another Bobcat corner, no damage.  36’ a weak attack was broken up at the Aggie net.  Dogs were barking loudly there at the trees.  35’ the Aggies managed to get into the opposing end.  Jess McDow kicked a roller from outside the Texas State box.  32’ Corey Kizer hit the post on a kick.  An immediate follow-up attack was also deflected away.  Right after, Shea O’Connor was body tackled to the ground.  No call.

The action went back to the Aggie end.  28’ Dmitri caught a high bouncer.  Right back to the other end, 27’ Shea received a good pass on a breakaway near the Texas State goal.  It was ruled offsides.  A parent yelled out, “V-A-R.”  I think from watching the Women’s World Cup, that’s the video play review system, which I don’t think would have applied to an offsides call where a goal wasn’t scored. 

Dmitri and Coach Baarts were getting really vocal now.  25’ yet another Bobcat corner.  23’ Dmitri dove to block a wide kick.  A defensive lapse had let an attacker get close.  The coach was screaming.  22’ and another corner.  21’ Emma Smith stripped a Bobcat attacker.  She found Shea near the Bobcat goal, who attempted a header.  20’ hydration break.  I would have got up myself for a refill, but I was too busy melting. 

16’ Jody Hernandez had subbed in and took a long shot that hit the Texas State crossbar.  Right back downfield, 15’ Dmitri caught a long shot from the wing.  14’ a Bobcat attacker was only faced by a lone defender and took a wide shot.  12’ out at midfield, Jody, shortest player on the Aggies, and the shortest player on the Bobcats took each other out at the ankles.  The Bobcat player gave Jody a friendly pat after getting up.

Now the Texas State attacks were getting coordinated.  11’ they had a great centering pass in front of the goal.  The shot just went wide.  On the near side of the field, a magpie (actually I have no idea what kind of bird it was) trotted out on to the field, bobbing its head.  It started feeding on worms until encroaching play chased it off.  The brave bird then hung out around the Texas State goal before flying off. 

8’ Texas State repeated their previous attack with another beautiful pass.  Dmitri stopped a roller in front of the net.  5’ it had to happen eventually.  A wing attack took a high, hard bounce.  Dmitri seemed to briefly have it, but it went through her hands into the goal.  Haley Groff made it 1-0 Texas State.  Their fans did their special cheer, “Eat’um up!  Go Cats go!”  I have to admit, it was well done. 

With under five minutes to go, I checked the time.  I’d decided beforehand that I was going to have to leave with 15 minutes to the top of the hour.  Time was up.  I got a refill on the water and strode quickly out of the stadium.  The guy running the concessions saw me, “Going to the volleyball?”  What a mindreader. 

The first half stats I had were Aggies: 0 goals, 1 corner, 1 shot on goal; Bobcats: 1 goal, 5 corners, 2 shots on goal.  Later during the volleyball game, I asked Danny for an update.  He told me it was 1-1 in overtime.  It went to a second OT without a resolution.  1-1 draw final.  I had to find out later that it was Shea O’Connor who scored for the Aggies, her second goal of the year.  Dmitri Fong had 6 saves for the game.  In the postgame report, the Aggies stopped two point-blank shots in the second OT.  My goodness.  This team may have it together defensively. 

I’m not the person for soccer analysis (or any other sport, but really not soccer).  The Bobcats were 4-0 coming into this game, so I’ll say they’re not a bad team.  (I’m not sure if any of their opponents were good.)  [Edit: the Bobcats are favored to win the Sunbelt Conference.]  I’m going to tentatively call this a “good” tie, like the game against Wyoming.  I think they’re showing progress.  We’ll see how it goes against rivals UTEP and UNM up next on the schedule. 

What’s not progressing is Aggie Sports scheduling.  Soccer already canceled one game last week and had this game cross-scheduled with volleyball.  I found out from Ron over the phone last night that they also just canceled next Sunday’s game.  I don’t think this will be an NCAA issue for the program unless there’s another cancellation, but circumstances beyond their control could cause that to happen (weather, travel, anything).  This doesn’t even include volleyball’s two cross-scheduling issues with football.  It just looks bad.  Okay, hopefully I’ll have a full recap for the next game.

Borderland Invitational NMSU vs UNM Volleyball 9-7-19

NMSU Aggie Megan Hart

So beautiful.  Sigh.  

Thank you, Aggie Sports Marketing for this poster

I’d really enjoyed the last match, but it did run pretty long.  As it was, there were only 45 minutes until the Aggies and UNM Lobos rivalry match.  That was just enough time to skip across the street to McDonalds.  Yes, McDonalds.  Dominos was the only other place within easy walking distance (apart from the concessions, forget that) and they’d take too long.  So, I had a small McNugget meal with fries and an ice cream cone.  It was okay for what it was, McDonalds, as opposed to a decent meal, but it was cheap and quick.

Tonight’s match was on the radio.  Adam Young gave me some stats and a recap of last night’s game.  The crowd was large.  There was even a good contingent of Greeks in the student section.  They were standing and cheering for much of the match.  There were some Lobo fans too.  There was a guy wearing UNM gear right in front of me, Danny, and Mike.  He was clapping and cheering the Aggie fight song.  I thought he was being sarcastic.  Mike asked him who he was rooting for, and he said he was fan of both teams.  Probably not coincidentally, his wife was in Aggie gear.

Both teams were basically in black for some reason.  The Aggies were in solid black, while the Lobos were in charcoal black.  The Aggies ran out the same starters as yesterday.  I got a better look at their new intro video.  It was highlights with a remix of You Don’t Own Me playing over it.  It’s sort of their theme song.  The theatrical intros played well with the huge crowd.  Adam said NMSU usually has some of the best volleyball attendance in the country.  The reserves made a clap circle and with that, we were underway.

Set 1

The match started on a long rally, which Savannah Davison finished with a kill down the line.  1-0 Aggies.  They went up 2-0 after a double touch call on the Lobos.  3-0, PA Ed Carnathan became part of the play as the ball went out-of-bounds.  4-2 Aggies, another long rally.  This would be setting the standard for most of the match.  Krysten Garrison and Lia Mosher subbed in.  5-3, Sav served into the net here.  6-4, Cat Kelly killed one down the line.  7-4, DT Lobos.  9-5, Lobo out-serve.  9-7, libero Halle Razo made an off court dig.  Sav went down making another dig on the point, but the Lobos took it.  10-8, Cat made an out-serve.  11-8, Ashley Anselmo got her first kill.

Pistol Pete came by and said, “Hi.”  This was a different Pete than yesterday. 13-8 Aggies, Julianna Salanoa served up an ace.  There’s a good serve finally.  Timeout Lobos.  14-8, beautiful (as always) Megan Hart and Ashley combined on a big block.  (Ash is very good-looking too.  I don’t mean to slight the rest of the team by singling out Meg.  These posts would go on forever if I went on about the entire team’s general attractiveness.)  14-9, an out-serve by Jules.  15-9, Ash went cross-court for a kill.  Afterward, a Lobo player complained about something.  16-9, the Lobos made a sneaky set and tip, but Sav got the tap kill.

18-10 Aggies, Lia tip kill.  Kiley Tonge came in to serve.  18-12, a Lobo ace.  19-12, Megan made a slap kill.  20-12, Lia and Jules blocked it.  The Coach liked it.  21-12, the Lobos committed a net violation, which led to a timeout.  The Cheerleaders did a t-shirt toss and the crowd went wild as usual.  22-12, Cat made two tips on a long rally to win it.  Coach Jordan was pleased again.  23-12, the Lobos had an overpass kill, but it was waved off on a net violation. 

23-14 Aggies, an ugly moment on court as the Lobos picked up a couple of points.  Nat and Sav collided with Sav getting socked in the mouth.  She was rubbing her jaw for the next couple of points.  There was another collision in the backcourt yesterday.  There might have been some confusion on an assignment, or I could see Savannah just trying to do too much.  24-14, Cat got a kill, and Jules finished off the set with an overpass kill.  The Aggie took Set 1, 25-15, with the crowd clapping during the point.

Set 2: Aggies 1, Lobos 0

Flex-cam was active between sets.  A lady bodybuilder with a massive set of guns got a round of applause, along with a little boy posing.  The Aggies came out firing, 3-0, with a block by Cat and a kill, a Jules overpass kill that she pounded straight down, and an ace by Natalie Mikels.  Nat hit the net at 4-1 and the Lobos took the next point on an ace.  Cat picked up her third kill of the set at 5-2. 

I noticed across the court that a little bitty girl had gotten one of the giveaway shirts and was wearing it.  The shirt went all the way to ankles.  It was too precious.  I hope her folks took a picture.  Oops, Cat took a shot off her head as the Lobos closed up to 5-4 Aggies.  Aggie blocking took over as Ash and Jules and then Meg and Ash won points at the net.  7-5, another long, insane rally.  A double touch on Nat ended it.  Though the Lobos won the point, their coach got a yellow card right after.  Adam missed it on the radio call.  Danny said the coach had been mouthing off for the whole match to that point. 

8-5 Aggies, Megan came back with a kill.  Coach Jordan wasn’t happy about something and chewed out Savannah.  Angry, she came back with a kill off the tape, 9-6.  Lia picked up an overpass kill.  Sav then hit an out-serve.  11-7, Megan hit a cross-court kill.  12-7, four touches foul on the Lobos.  13-9, Jules slammed a kill.  I heard a fan behind me shout, “Beautiful!”  Definitely.  15-9, media timeout. 

15-10 Aggies, Nat served one out coming out of the break.  15-11, four touches on the Aggies.  After another Lobo point, Coach Jordan took a timeout.  This match had been kind of intense.  I could see the girls getting tired and playing too unfocused.  I was exhausted and I was just watching.  The students were singing out during Sweet Caroline during the break.  16-14, the Lobos were broke on a net violation.  16-14, another long rally.  It ended on a mishit by Jules.  The girls still hadn’t gotten their second wind.  Coach Jordan got a yellow card for arguing.  He might have wanted to give his players a moment to catch their breaths. 

17-14 Aggies, Ashley slammed a cross-court kill.  18-14, Megan was back in and got a block.  19-15, Ash got another kill, and Meg followed that with a kill, 20-15.  Timeout Lobos.  At 22-16, the Lobos had a net violation and called their other timeout.  On the video board, a large, fat bald guy did a superfast floss to the delight of the crowd.  Really though, I think Coach Jordan should have taken that time to talk to the team.  (I’m just kidding.)  A Lia and Cat rejection got the Aggies to set point at 24-16.  Freshman Katie Birtcil came in.  She made a one-hand slam into the sideline to end the set, 25-17 Aggies.  I’m impressed.

Set 3: Aggies 2, Lobos 0

There was a five-minute halftime break.  A guy behind me tapped me to ask a question.  I forgot what it was, but it wasn’t someone asking why I was taking notes for a change.  I complimented him on his very sharp-looking Dodgers polo shirt.  I told him I didn’t like the team, but did like that shirt.  We had a little baseball chat.  I would wear that shirt if I had it, just like that Yankees polo shirt I saw on a scout here at an Aggie Baseball game once, and I hate them more.

Back to the action, Savannah pounded one at 1-1.  The Lobos and Aggies traded fouls before Sav got a tip kill that hit two blockers.  The score tied at 4 after a four touches call on the Aggies.  The Lobos took a 5-4 lead after Megan hit one out, but she tied it on the next point with a kill.  8-6 Aggies, this was the point of the match and the weekend.  It ended up on the NCAA Volleyball weekly highlight reel.  It was a rally that went for over a minute, which is an eternity in play.  Cat had three tip attempts.  There were multiple saves by both teams.  Finally, Ashley ended it with a cross-court kill. 

The Lobos stayed close after a Sav out-serve and a DT on Nat.  They tied it at 10 on a block.  The Aggies retook the lead, 11-10, as Sav powered a kill past two blockers.  After a DT and losing another point, the Lobos took a timeout at 13-10.  I’ll bet all of the girls were winded.  14-10, Ash and Meg shoved a tip attempt back and slapped down the next Lobo swing.  After another Lobo DT and a block by Megan, the Lobos took another timeout at 18-10.  Some students were mimicking Megan’s two-hand dunk move in the break.

19-12 Aggies, the Lobos got two points, but then net-served.  20-12, the Aggies blocked out and then Meg got the overpass kill.  21-13, Lia got a kill.  Kiley came back in to serve.  22-13, the shot of the day, Cat poked a kill into the Lobo back corner.  The crowd went nuts.  Coach Jordan even high-fived her.  Lia and Meg both got kills to bring it to match point.  Katie came in again.  The students had a cheer going.  Once again, Katie finished it.  This time with a tip.  The Aggies win the set 25-15 and match 3-0.  Katie is now “The Finisher.”  Seriously though, the freshman’s got some ice water in her veins to come in and take those winning shots.               

Coach Jordan saluted the crowd.  In the postgame interview over the radio, he was happy with the blocking (12 blocks) and holding both the Lobos and the Tigers to a negative hitting percentage.  The team had 8 errors on serve, but he was strangely okay with that as long as the in-serves were good ones.  Savannah Davison and Megan Hart both had 10 kills, and Cat Kelly had 9.  For a straight sets win, this was a tough one.  The Aggies were really having to fight for those points.

Oops.  My happy mood became damp outside of the Pan-Am Center.  It was raining.  I’d noticed possible rainclouds while driving here, but hadn’t prepared for the possibility of rain.  Thankfully, it wasn’t raining hard, but I’d parked in the far parking lot and got wet.  Thankfully again, it didn’t actually start storming until well after I’d gotten home.  After the storm had passed, it kept lightning and thundering for over an hour afterward.  I’d done a good job of keeping up with writing recaps after the first three matches, but I was reluctant to turn on my computer with lightning in the area.  Finally, it was too late to start and I wanted to get to bed early.  So, this put me severely behind writing. 

Tomorrow, it would be another rivalry match and a battle of coaching wits between master and apprentice.

Borderland Invitational UTEP vs Pacific Volleyball 9-7-19

 UTEP Grad Asst. Tatyana Battle

Doesn't she look adorable here?

I went back home after the morning match, since it was going to be four hours until the next match.  I wrote up the recap, but wasn’t able to take a nap like I wanted.  I waited about eating lunch, hoping I’d be able to get with Ron and go out to eat before the next match.  He was still busy with the remodeling project and wouldn’t be able to go at all.  I had found a Raising Canes coupon laying in the Pan-Am Center concourse after last night’s game.  During the match, nobody had said anything about a promotion.  It was only good for today and was a two-for-one coupon, so I was keenly disappointed to not be able to use it.

Instead, I choked down a meal out of a can in record time.  I listened to a bit of Aggie Football playing Alabama while I was eating/gagging.  Their stadium had more people in it than there are here in Las Cruces.  The Crimson Tide scored on a rush on their first play from scrimmage.  Exactly nobody was surprised.  This might literally be the best opponent the Aggie Football program has ever played.

I came back to the Pan-Am and sat by Danny and Mike.  I was embarrassingly confused for a moment watching the teams warming up.  The Pacific Tigers were wearing orange tops (like UTEP wears) and the Miners were wearing black tournament t-shirts.  For the actual game though, they switched colors.  (Thank goodness, it might have confused me for the whole match.) 

On the sidelines, Coach Ben Wallis, former Aggie assistant, was leading the Miners.  Congratulations (darn it).  Coach Wallis was interviewed on KROD last month.  He offhandedly said something that had me scrambling to look up their team roster.  Yes indeed, he had taken graduated Aggie star player Tatyana Battle with him as a graduate assistant.  Congratulations to her as well (darn it).  Coach Wallis had run a bunch of summer camps for girls and boys in El Paso.  Interestingly, he mentioned that Men’s Volleyball is the third most popular sport internationally (behind soccer and basketball).  Most other countries have professional Men’s leagues. 

When Coach Jordan was interviewed earlier in the week on the radio, he said he thought of Coach Wallis as a brother and had helped him get the job.  That said, he said it’s going to be awkward to play against him.  Still, Jordan said he plays against close friends all the time and it is kind of fun.  AD Mario Moccia, earlier on the Aggie Coaches Show, had also wished Wallis well, except for the two hours where they’ll be enemies when their teams are playing.  That said, Coach Jordan was not above playing some head-games.  His Assistant Coaches, Rubio and Hertel, started working the match as ball boys.  Jordan himself was sitting on top on the south grandstand in the shadows watching.

UTEP #3 Briana Bustillos 

I was disappointed in Miner team roster.  Former Aggie and the Miner’s libero last season, Briana Bustillos, was no longer on the team.  (They didn’t list a dedicated libero on the program, though there was one in the game.)  I was really looking forward to seeing her play.  She’s such a cutie with a wonderful smile.  Irbe Lazda in the lineup caught my eye as an impressive physical specimen.  The Miners also had a pretty little permed blonde on the bench, but she wasn’t suited up to play.  Taty looked smart in her UTEP polo shirt.  Another Assistant Coach was an eye-catching snow white blonde, Andrea Beaty.  (Though Katie Hoekman in the same position for the Pacific team was probably a bit hotter and certainly seemed more pleasant, as we shall see). 

It was another light crowd, but UTEP did bring some fans.  They were scattered around the arena.  (These visiting teams should coordinate better and sit in the same section, like for Women’s Basketball games.)  Emerson was here for this game sitting next to PA Ed.  The UTEP team got a big cheer when they were introduced.  Coach Wallis and Taty were given a special introduction.  Ben waved to the few Aggie fans present.  Taty was too shy (at this time) to stand up from the bench.

Set 1

UTEP started with a decided advantage in cheering.  Not only did they have some fans there, their reserves outnumbered Pacific 13 to 5.  I was still listening to Aggie Football on my little radio while watching this match.  I couldn’t resist.  At the start of the match, the Aggies finally scored on Alabama.  I shouted out, “Touchdown Aggies!”  Nobody cared.  I think it was the third quarter.  The score was 45-7.

The Tigers showed no signs of fatigue from playing this morning.  They rushed out to a 5-1 lead.  Heavy hitter, Riley Patterson had a kill.  I didn’t see any of the Aggie girls watching the game at this time, except for Analyssa Acosta.  I think I saw her across the court in the boosters section.  She sat with her family.  I’m sure they were there to support her in the later game, but they might have been rooting for UTEP here, since they’re from El Paso.

The Tigers continued to pour it on.  11-5 Pacific, Lucy Carpenter had a great kill.  At 12-5, timeout Miners.  UTEP came back with a couple of points.  13-7, Riley hit another serve out.  The coach might consider subbing for her turn.  If she’d take a little off it, she’d be more accurate.  17-9, Tigers got a stuff block.  18-9, a bad Tiger dig popped up and dropped in on the Miner side.  That’s when you know you’re getting lucky.  Timeout Miners.  UTEP came out on a short run.  21-13, Riley took my above advice and got a kill.  (It’s not how hard you hit it; it’s where you hit it.)  24-24, there was an overrule on a touch to give Riley another kill.  The Tigers took Set 1, 25-24.  They were all jacked up for their first set win of the invitational.

Set 2: Tigers 1, Miners 0

Sweet Dreams played over the PA during the break.  One of the line officials chatted with Coach Rubio on the sidelines.  UTEP took the first point on an overpass, and the second on a double touch.  With the third point, the Miner reserves stepped up and cheered.  They increased it to 7-3, as the Tigers made consecutive out serves.  8-6, Pacific got back into it with a couple of good kills, but their run ended on a net serve.

9-9, the Tigers got a soft kill to tie it.  UTEP took the lead right back at 10-9, as they blocked Riley.  This got a big rise out of their bench.  UTEP took the next point on a long rally.  Pretty slim blonde Allison Dennemann, who I’d noticed yesterday, made a brave dive into the bench for a dig.  Riley came up with a kill to make it 11-10 UTEP, but gave it right back on another out-serve.  13-11, Allison got a kill here.  15-12, net violation called on UTEP.  Coach Wallis argued the call.  Overall, I’d say he’d been more even tempered here so far than when he was an Aggie assistant coach.

The Tigers took a timeout at 17-13 UTEP.  After a Miner run, the Tigers took a timeout at 18-16.  19-16, the Tigers were called for a roof (I think).  Coach Wallis nodded and agreed with the call.  20-16, timeout Tigers.  Beside me, Mike was looking up the PA song with the Shazam app on his phone.  (How did DC blow the trademark on that word, especially after they renamed Captain Marvel with it and then later released a movie with him?  Don’t tell me they actually licensed the name out for the app.  Don’t get me started on the whole “Captain Marvel” name thing.)  23-16, Syenna Masaki for UTEP poured in two aces.  The Hawaii native is the team’s serving specialist.  UTEP took Set 2, 25-17.  We were even on sets, so no sweep for this match.

Pacific Tiger Allison Dennemann

Set 3: Tigers 1, Miners 1

The “half” was only two minutes, just like a regular set break.  Organizers wanted to move this match along.  Shout from Animal House played on the video board.  A UTEP fan lady flossing also made it onscreen.  Both teams came out firing hard.  4-3 UTEP, Allison got her second kill of the set.  6-3, the Tigers were called for a lift.  7-5, Allison was on fire with an ace on serve. 

9-7 UTEP, Tiger net serve.  10-8, Miner net serve.  11-9, Miner net serve.  12-10, Miner out-serve.  A little tight, maybe?  13-12, Sedona Sherman for the Tigers pounded one.  13-13, the Tigers pounded it on an overpass kill.  They took the lead, 14-13, on a missed dump shot.  Timeout Miners.  UTEP came back and retook the lead, 15-14, on a Tiger DT.  16-14, a massive block for UTEP. 

Elsewhere, Aggie Football lost to Alabama, 62-10.  Yes!  They covered the 55-point spread, and I just made a cool grand.  (Just kidding, although a friend of a co-worker did actually did make money taking that bet.)  I was disappointed that the Aggies made it to the Bama 2-yard line at the end of the game and didn’t score before time expired.  (Can you say there was a fix on this game?)  Josh Adkins had been taken out as the quarterback in the fourth, though he was in a receiver/decoy on the goal line.

Now, I was fully paying attention to the volleyball.  18-15 UTEP, the Miners got a block and Pacific took a timeout here and at 20-16.  UTEP Assistant Coach Beaty took the time to scream at one of the girls.  She’s attractive, but rather frightening.  The Tiger Coach Greg Gibbons only took about 10 seconds in the huddle with his team.  Two UTEP fouls got the Tigers right back into it.  Allison got a mishit kill off a bad set at 23-21 UTEP.  She could do no wrong here.  24-21, DT Tigers.  25-21, UTEP took Set 3 on another Tiger double touch. 

UTEP Miner Martine Kragholm

Set 4: Miners 2, Tigers 1

A Tigers player argued those DT calls with an official between sets.  Afterward, the up and down officials had a serious chat as well.  I found out where that Raising Canes coupon came from yesterday.  They were handing them out to everyone in a random specific section.  Try to sit with a crowd.  It might increase your chances. 

UTEP took the first point as their bench was very into it.  The Tigers went up 2-1 after a long rally.  UTEP tied it at 2, but the Tigers went up 4-2 on a DT.  UTEP stormed back to a 7-5 lead with Anamarija Mikovic on a serving run.  The Tigers came back.  Allison split the defenders for a kill at 7-6, and the Tigers tied it at 8-8 on a block.  They took the lead, 9-8, on an ace off the tape.  They went up 11-9 off of two kills by Riley.  12-9, another ace and a UTEP timeout.

The Pacific reserves danced to Jump in the Line.  Mike looked it up on Shazam.  He was showing me how the app worked and I missed a couple of points.  15-10 Tigers, a long rally went to the Miners.  16-11, Tiger Carissa Bradford absolutely bombed one to break up the UTEP run.  16-12, a Riley net serve.  17-13, another Tiger net serve.  18-13, Carissa again, as she banged one off a defender.  19-14, the crowd got into it with this long rally.  It finished with a Miner block going out.  This was a heck of a match here.

I noticed local photographer Gary Mook had taken over as one of the ballboys.  I’m sure he didn’t expect to be doing that today.  I’ll guess the Aggie assistant coaches had to go do some pregame coaching, though I think Coach Jordan was still watching.  19-16, Martine Kragholm for UTEP came up to serves.  Whoa!  What a gorgeous, well-built young woman.  How did I miss seeing her earlier?  Pacific had a foul on the play and took a timeout.

19-17 Tigers, the Miners got a rejection block here.  19-18, the Tigers fired one out.  20-18, the Tigers break, though the Miners got a brilliant save during the point.  The up ref tossed a towel down to Tiger Kaelyn Saler, who was cleaning the floor.  She tossed it back up to him.  He juggled it and managed to snatch it out of midair.  Kaelyn smiled up at him. 

20-20, we were in a dogfight here.  22-20 Tigers, off a bad set, a bad hit dropped in.  Timeout UTEP.  23-22, another net serve Riley!  Come on!  She’s great on the floor, but please stop letting her serve!  24-22, a Miner block went out.  25-22, Tigers take the set on an ace by Jadyn Tubbs. 

Set 5: Miners 2, Tigers 2

Let’s play five!  A coin flip determined the first serve on the sidelines (I think).  The Pacific girls were practicing ballroom dancing while Sweet Caroline was playing.  Obviously, the girls were feeling the pressure.  OMG!  Riley put two hard serves in to start the set.  I’m not sure what the coach was thinking, but it worked here, 1-1.  Jadyn served next and got an ace, 3-1 Tigers.  Carrissa got a kill, 4-1, and a Miner timeout. 

5-3 Tigers, Irbe slapped one on an overpass for UTEP.  She definitely has the frame for doing that.  6-3, net serve UTEP.  7-3, Martine shanked a receive for UTEP.  8-4, out-serve on UTEP.  The teams changed sides.  9-4, Allison served up an ace as Martine shanked another one.  9-5, Irbe dunked another overpass.  9-6, this time Allison shanked on a receive.  10-6, Riley came up with a kill.

By this point, the match had run long enough for the Lobos and the Aggies to have arrived at the Pan-Am Center.  Some of the Aggies watched from the top of the south grandstand.  10-7 Tigers, Pacific made an out-serve.  10-9, UTEP was making a comeback.  Their reserves were going crazy.  Timeout Tigers.  10-10, we’re tied.  11-10 Pacific, Kennedy Kaminsky put the Tigers up with a slap down.  12-10 Tigers, timeout UTEP.  13-10, Kennedy again with a tip kill.  Pacific would go on to win the set and match 15-11 and 3-2.  On the final point off a very hard hit, the Miners made a valiant effort to keep it in. 

Whew!  What a game!  I admit I was kind of rooting for Pacific.  I might have been cheering on UTEP this time, but after seeing Pacific get beat twice, including this morning, I felt bad for them.  The Tigers started stretching out on the floor right after.  The Miner players went into the crowd to mingle with family.  Coach Wallis recruited a whole bunch of El Paso players for the team.

The Tigers showed some physical and mental resilience after playing earlier and getting swept in their first two games.  The stats on the scoreboard were wrong, but I got the correct stats later online.  I question Riley Patterson’s serving (5 service errors), but she led everyone with 17 kills.  Carrissa Bradford and Kennedy Kaminsky were next with 10.  My crush, Allison Denemann, had 9. 

In spite of the loss here, Coach Wallis has obviously done a great job with the Miners.  Serena Patterson led UTEP with 11 kills.  The team showed some real fight.  A little more star talent and they’d be very hard to beat, and they’ve got some girls that at least physically look like that could be stars.   

Okay, on to the main event for the day, Aggies versus Lobos.