NM State Aggies vs Middle TN Blue Raiders Volleyball 9-22-23

 

I wasn’t feeling entirely well today.  I slept in like for three hours trying to sleep it off.  I probably would have gone to work today anyway if I didn’t have the day off, because I wasn’t technically sick.  I was just fighting it off.  I did go for lunch with dad next door at McAlisters.  At least I had a full belly.

 

On Twitter, the Aggie Volleyball girls were loose.  There were a couple pictures of stars Ryleigh Whitekettle and Starr Williams wearing PJ bottoms and giant bearclaw slippers to practice.  I’m sure there’s a story behind this.  For their part, Middle Tennessee was coming into Las Cruces having won 8-in-a-row, including beating #25 Auburn on the road.

 

Aggie Soccer was here tonight.  The team and Coach Baarts were guests of the team seated behind the bench.  Three of the girls worked the game as ball girls.  Assistant Coach Whitis chatted with them before the game.  Coach Jordan then came over and chewed them out.  The girls just stood there and nodded.  (Just kidding, he was friendly.) 

 

Before the match, there was a Moment of Silence for Thalia Chaverria, soccer’s fallen teammate.  Her cause of death has still not been disclosed.  The team was also honored during the match for their win last night in El Paso over UTEP, 2-0.  Goalie Valeria Guha made a highlight reel save in the game.           

 

This was the Volleyball team’s first Conference-USA match.  There was a nice conference poster available up front.  (I passed.  Nowhere to easily put it.)  The down ref for the match was very cute.  Where are all these good-looking refs suddenly coming from?  Team assistants Tatyana Battle and Molly Johnson were looking very stylish on the sidelines.  Our match cover girl and also featured first in the intro video, Morgan Stewart, was nowhere to be found.  Maybe she’s out sick.  Injured setter Peyton Castillo was sitting on the opposite sideline watching.  Her teammates high-fived her before the match.

 

Set 1

Sydney McIntosh got the first point of the match for the Aggies on a touch.  Ryleigh got her first kill at 2-1 Aggies.  She made a dive at the net for a ball on the next play.  No damage taken.  Starr got her first kill at 3-2 by burying one at a defender’s feet.  Setter Bianca Perez came out of the game with shoelace problems. 

 

5-3 Aggies, Kacia Brown dialed up an ace.  Next play, Starr got a kill, but libero Darian Markham got the applause for getting three digs on the play.  6-5 Rilen Garcia was setting.  She jumped for a ball to set it and was immediately called for a double touch.  Gotta stay on the ground for that.

 

7-5 Aggies, Mari Sharp got her first kill.  Next, Mari and Ashley Herman took a trip to Block City.  Get used to Aggie blocking for this match.  9-6 Ryleigh got a kill.  MT had two good saves on the play.  They went on a run, but Syd ended it with a kill, 11-8.  At 12-8, the Blue Raiders took a timeout.  There was a little girl behind me shouting, “Aggies!  You got this!”  There was a good crowd at over 1,000 and they were enthusiastic. 

 

13-9 Aggies, Syd split a pair of defenders for a kill.  Darian had a great dig on the play.  15-11 Mari finished the point with a kill.  Rilen almost ran headfirst into Starr for a dig.  That wouldn’t have gone well for her given the size difference.  MT took another timeout.  I was hit by a t-shirt tossed into the crowd by the Cheerleaders.  This surprised me, since everyone in front of me was standing.  I handed it to a girl behind me.  Hopefully, it fit her.

 

15-13 Aggies, the Blue Raiders took this point.  Ashley ran all around the court waving her arms on this play.  That one’s not going on the highlight reel.  Timeout Aggies.  MT came back from the break with an ace.  16-14 Aggies, Starr got a kill off a block.  Next point, Darian served up an ace, but then served into the net.  Mari sided out with a kill off a couple defenders.  19-15 Ry buried one.  On the next point, there was an Aggie block that landed by the line and called out.  Coach Jordan challenged, but was denied.  It wasn’t as close as it looked from the other end of the court when shown on replay.

 

The Aggies took a timeout with the Blue Raiders closing in at 19-18.  An old commercial played on the video board of the coach hanging out with a WAC Championship trophy to the tune of Best Friend.  Everybody got a laugh out of it.  20-18 Aggies, Ry broke the run with a kill.  MT made a nice dive save on the play.  But then, Mari served into the net. 

 

22-19 Aggies, Syd and Starr added kills.  MT was out of timeouts and instead made a questionable challenge that was denied.  The players on the court huddled with the coach.  The reserves and Ryleigh huddled together as well.  I wonder what they were talking about.  22-20 Dasia Smith got a big kill for the Blue Raiders.  She had the biggest arm on their team.  22-22 an Aggie block went wide. 

 

MT took the lead 22-23 on a block, but then Starr hammered a nail to re-tie it.  Kacia tied it at 24 on a touch call.  MT got to 24-25 with a kill on the line, but Starr was the big eraser and tied it at 25.  26-25 Aggies, Darian served up a big ace.  27-25 Aggies, MT was called for four touches.  Their coach challenged, but it was quickly denied.  Aggies take Set 1.

 

Set 2: Aggies 1, Blue Raiders 0

The Soccer girls acting as ballgirls talked briefly to the up official.  With the teams changing ends, I watched the MT huddle.  Dasia seemed like the leader and yelled encouragement to her teammates.  Off to the side, their coach talked to a couple of players.  He had his hands together like he was begging them.

 

MT’s libero Erin Eisenhart had a very dramatic serve.  She presented the ball as she walked to the service line like she was carrying a platter before she struck it.  Mari and Kacia had the first two Aggie kills.  2-3 MT, Ryleigh served into the net, but the Blue Raiders tied it by doing the same on the next point.  (Contagious.)  3-5 MT went up on an overpass kill.  Kacia made a flying kill next, but then served into the net.

 

5-6 MT, Aleka Darko got the kill.  From the other end of the court, I could hear her call Rilen for the ball.  6-6 Aleka and Mari on the block.  7-6 Aggies, Ry and Aleka on the block.  8-6 Aleka and Mari for another block.  After a swing into the net by MT, they took a timeout at 9-6 to disrupt the Aleka Show.

 

Out of the timeout, Darian, who had been on serve for the run, put one into the net.  “Damn!” yelled out a fan next to me.  You could see that one coming.  (Maybe they should practice delays in serving.)  Ryleigh was blocked twice on the next point and MT went back on a run.  11-11 “Boom!” PA Ed called it, as Ry came back with a big kill to break the run.  She followed that with another huge kill to give the Aggies the lead.  Mya Hammack (my favorite on the Soccer team) and a couple of girls on the team walked by.  I wasn’t on the aisle, but I tried to wave to them to congratulate them on the win, but couldn’t dare attempt to yell with my questionable throat. 

 

Meanwhile on court, Ryleigh was blocked out and the Aggie lead increased to 14-11.  Ashley got a big kill.  A cute video played of her dancing in a cowboy hat.  Kacia hit the backline with a kill.  Rilen then made a high, floating serve that didn’t clear the net.  17-15 Aggies, Kacia came back with a flying kill.  19-16 Darian aced again.  The Aggies were first to 20 with a put-back by Aleka.  Timeout MT.

 

Back to the block party, Ryleigh and Aleka teamed up to make it 21-16 Aggies.  MT took the next point, but Darian made a great save on a setter dump attempt.  At 22-19, the Aggies took a timeout.  Ashley broke the Blue Raiders’ run by tooling a block, 23-20, but MT wasn’t going away.  23-22 Aggies, timeout.  Never fear, Ashley is here, 24-22, on a kill.  Dasia had a kill to bring MT within a point again, but Kacia finished it on a tip, 25-23 Aggies.

 

Set 3: Aggies 2, Blue Raiders 0

The crowd was totally jacked by this point.  The teams changed ends again.  Freshman Maggie Lightheart (my Volleyball favorite) happily walked by on the sidelines.  Meanwhile, Bianca was still having trouble with her shoelaces, though it wasn’t affecting her play.  In the huddle, while they were waiting on the coach, the girls watched the fans on Dance Cam.  Maggie grooved along with the music.

 

Ashley started the set, so nobody was there to fist-bump everyone before play started.  (She needs to delegate somebody to take up that task when needed.)  The first four points were a Mari tip, a Ryleigh kill, a Ry and Kacia block, and an Ashley kill.  I had a good feeling about this set.  MT took a point, but Kacia went boom with a kill.  Maggie came in to serve.  (She’s going to get mentioned by me whenever she comes in.)  6-2 Aggies, MT had a net serve.  Next point, the Aggies had two monster saves before MT fired into the net for another point. 

 

8-3 Aggies, Starr slammed one.  Mari had a solo block.  MT was then called for a DT.  The coach complained, but didn’t challenge.  The run continued.  11-4 Ry and Aleka posted another block.  On the next point, the Blue Raiders may have been called for being out-of-rotation.  Their coach complained again and then called a timeout.  The Cheerleaders tossed Aggie Soccer scarves to the crowd.  A guy across the court put his on with the help of his friends wrapping him up.

 

The timeout was no help.  Mari put in two kills and crowd was becoming rabid.  15-6 Aggies, Kacia turned on an overpass.  Timeout MT.  Coach Baarts and his family walked by at some point.  He couldn’t get his attention either.  17-6 Ry stood and let a ball drop just wide of the sideline.  Nice.  18-6 Ash got a kill, but the MT coach used his last challenge and got it overturned, 17-7.  Next point, Kacia got a kill with Maggie sub serving.  19-8 here was a no doubt kill by Ash. 

 

MT took the next point, though Maggie made a good dig on the point.  20-9 Aggies, Kacia with another kill.  MT had no answer.  21-9 Mari nukes one from orbit!  23-11 an MT net serve.  They outright looked dejected.  Coach Jordan was losing it with his team anyway on any bad point.  Mari brought it to set point with a kill.  25-12 Aggies, MT fired out and the Aggies took the set and the match, 3-0.

 

This was an unexpected, but happily received result.  Middle Tennessee came in red hot, but the Aggies played tough when it was close and finished out well.  Your relevant stats are Aggies up 10-4 in blocks and 5-1 in aces.  The Aggies were 5 aces to 8 service errors.  The coach would probably take that.  Darian Markham had 4 of those aces and 14 digs.  Mari Sharp led everyone with 11 kills and 5 blocks.  Ryleigh Whitekettle had 10 with 5 blocks.  Kacia Brown had 10 blocks and Aleka Darko led with 6 blocks.  Nobody on the Blue Raiders had kills in double digits.   

 

The Aggies took a couple of happy team pictures on court.  I left immediately.  I felt fine (even better with the win), but thought I’d best get home quickly.  Due to the conference scheduling, these two teams would be going at it again the next day.  Hopefully, I’d wake up ready to go and feeling good. 

9-24-23

Yeah, that didn’t happen.  I was feeling okay when I wrote that, but when I went to bed, I immediately got sick and was laid out all Saturday.  The team would win a thrilling five-set match that afternoon.  The Aggies lost the first set badly, took the next two (including one in extra points), and lost the fourth.  In the fifth, they were down 8-4, but the Aggies brought the good serving today and with 3 aces won the set and match in extra points. 

 

The usual suspects were all good.  Aspen Aldous was the second setter for the match and had three aces.  The stat of the match was 12 aces to 8 service errors for the Aggies.  (The next day, I heard from Fan Danny that two of the line judges showed up late, so they used a couple of assistants, one from each team, to start the match.  I think he said Molly was the one from the Aggies.)   

 

Not only was the match great, but I also missed out on Autograph Day, the first in three years.  Darn.  This may have been the first time I’ve missed a home volleyball game in a while.  I’d be regretful about not being there, but that decision was taken out of my hands.  There was a great crowd for the game, so they didn’t need me.  The girls probably got wore out signing autographs.                   

NM State Aggies vs LA Tech Bulldogs Soccer 9-17-23

Lauren Machuca looking friendly.

I was making some sacrifices to go to today’s Aggie Soccer game against the LA Tech Bulldogs.  I walked out on watching a sportscar race, listening to the final El Paso Chihuahuas home game (they lost in extras), and Twitch streamer, Kiwhiskey, who I’m in love with.  Also, the Chiefs were playing I could have gone to watch them with my dad.  However, there were going to be autographs after the game, so that made this an easy choice.  I thought about taking a radio to listen to the Chihuahuas game, but decided I’d do better to just focus on one thing at a time for a change.

 

The ticket girls asked about Ron.  I told them he was out driving a truck.  I also haven’t heard from him for several weeks.  At the courtesy table, they were offering Aggie Soccer scarves.  Since I already had one (and had given one away), I declined.  (I felt bad.  The girl had a box of these things to dispense.)  It looked like a new design. 

 

I talked to Marketing Director Nicole Sack there.  During the Football game last night, Coach Kill was reported to have been out sick during the week.  (Which would explain why he wasn’t there for the Tuesday radio show.)  Little detail was given, but he was at the game.  I asked about him.  She surprised me.  She thought I was talking about him getting injured on sidelines during the game, which I didn’t know about.  The Coach Kill is apparently willing to die for the team. 

 

As usual, I’ll recap some other Aggies Sports.  Last night, Aggie Football played the Lobos in Albuquerque.  Unlike last year when this game was played in Las Cruces, there was no riot in the stands, but there was controversy.  The Aggie Pride of New Mexico Band was charged $20 a seat to attend this game!  Words fail me.  Really.  A few big donors would fork out the $5,400 extortion fee.  Regardless, the Aggies showed their motivation and delivered a stirring 27-17 victory.  Serves the Lobos right to have to watch the Aggie Band celebrate in their stadium.

 

Aggie Volleyball won three-in-a-row at a tournament in Illinois.  Ryleigh Whitekettle scored in double digits in each game.  Starr Williams had 23 kills in one game.  Then in a tournament in Tucson, they took the first match against Alabama State with Kacia Brown leading the way.  They lost the nightcap to host Arizona, but did take a set from them.  Ryleigh, Starr, and Kacia scored in double digits.  Bianca Perez had 31 assists.

 

The Aggies also lost to Long Beach State the next day, 3-1.  Ryleigh, Starr, and Mari Sharp had double digit kills.  All three setters had double digit assists.  The final set went to 35-33, a nail-biting monster.  Freshman Maggie Lightheart (and my favorite on the team) served up an ace in extra points.  Coach Jordan was actually happy with the team afterward.    

 

As for Aggie Soccer, since the home game loss against UNLV, the Aggies lost 3-1 to UNM and 3-0 to USC on the road.  The loss to the Lobos was disappointing.  The loss to the Trojans was slightly encouraging as it wasn’t a more terrible loss.  Karolanne Lafortune started in goal for both games. 

 

Back to today’s game, it was sunny, but with some clouds in the area.  There was a light breeze keeping things cool.  (And I got sunburned where I missed putting on sunblock.)  Fan Danny was here today.  I sat down with him.  The LAT girls warmed up in front of us.  There was a light crowd today at just over 300.  The Band wasn’t here today.  (They couldn’t afford the seats.)  I didn’t see any kids teams out, but there were some kids.

 

Karolanne did start in goal of the Aggies.  She was wearing crimson with the team in white.  The LAT goalie, Laerke Holst, was in baby blue with her team in bright blue.  Usually, the goalie is in totally different colors.  I noticed Sydnee Johnson wasn’t suited up to play, but was on the sidelines.  Lastly, the PA introduced LAT as the “Lady Bulldogs.”  Their website says, “Bulldogs.”  I remembered that the last time I wrote about LA Tech was in 2018, when their Women’s Basketball team played UTEP.  Then, they were the Lady Techsters.   

 

First Half

43’ left in the half, LAT took the first shot.  It was a weak shot on goal that was easily scooped up (and wasn’t counted as a shot on goal).  They followed that up with a free kick over the Aggie goal.  40’ the Aggies made their first attack with some good passing downfield, but it didn’t result in a shot. 

 

On field, I noticed LAT was fielding a 5’3” player, Tal Faingezicht from Israel, and Tomoyo Kuroyanagi, a player from Japan.  Mya Hammack, my favorite on the Aggies, was now playing midfield.  Playing near the stands, I could hear her talking a lot to her teammates with instructions.  Xitlaly Hernandez was now back on defense. 

 

37’ Meredith Scott was on the attack with only one defender on her.  She took a shot across the goal, but there was no one on the other side.  30’ a ball flew into the stands and bounced off an umbrella.  I think my fingers just barely stopped hurting from my last encounter with such a ball. 

 

Right after that, Gia Valenti took a chip shot at the top of the LAT box that went right over the goalie.  1-0 Aggies!  Beautiful shot!  27’ Bianca Chacon took a free kick that went over the goal.  25’ Bianca got another free kick, but a little closer to the goal.  Holst caught the shot.  24’ the Aggies had a corner kick.  Brooke Schultz and Madita Ehrig (from Germany, a bit less than half of their roster is international) went down together in the box.  The play was whistled dead and the players took a hydration break.  Ehrig got the worst of the encounter.  It looked like a shot to the head.  28’ LAT came back on offense and took a shot that stuck into an advertising sign to the right of the goal. 

 

18’ Meredith and Tal had a hard collision on the near sideline.  The crowd could hear Meredith taking the worst of the hit.  She popped back up and pleaded with ref Jonathan Stone.  Stone sounded and looked like a right proper English soccer hooligan.  “Here now!  You two were giving it to each other!  Play on!”  I admit.  I was loving this guy every time I heard him.  I was actually kind of glad and band wasn’t there and there wasn’t a big crowd so I could.  Unfortunately, a couple of minutes later, Meredith took an elbow in the back from Tal.

 

12’ Shila Rasoul got a one-on-one against Holst.  They got tangled together at the top of the box before Shila could take a shot.  9’ LAT had a free kick outside of the Aggie box.  The shot went over the net.  A couple of minutes later, they got a corner.  That shot went out.  That was the last major action of the half.

 

Halftime

A couple of guys behind us were talking about scheduling and C-USA.  (This was Soccer’s first conference game.)  Danny and I had been discussing this earlier as well.  We were a well-informed group of fans.  Danny went out and got a hot dog, which were being sold for a $1.  I wish I’d known that earlier.  I’d mostly skipped breakfast and lunch and was waiting to get back home to eat.        

 

There were two contestants for dizzy goal-shooting.  They didn’t seem dizzy running to the goals after spinning, but they both missed all three shots badly.  Valerie Guha spent halftime warming up on field.  She’d start in goal for the second half.  Before the half started, a dozen t-shirts were tossed to the crowd.  It was a pretty generous day for giveaways.  Shila was dancing to the PA music in front of us before the second half started. 

 

Second Half

44’ Meredith and a LAT player (maybe Tal) were really going at it on the far side of the field right off the bat.  The ref broke them up.  43’ LAT had a free kick.  Val made an easy catch on it.  42’ after a long kick downfield, Meredith passed to Loma McNeese in front of the goal for an easy tap in.  2-0 Aggies!  That looked pretty easy.  During the play, Danny had offered me some of his M&M’s and missed the play.  “See if I offer you anything again.”

 

40’ LAT came right back.  Xitlaly and Jena Johanes took out Lauren Egbuloniu in the Aggie box and fouled her.  (Jena took the yellow card.)  Lauren took the penalty kick and made it 2-1 Aggies.  39’ the Bulldogs had a breakaway.  Val dove to stop the first shot, but a follow up shot was buried by Avery Kyle.  We were tied at 2-2.  That was three goals in five minutes.

 

Valerie was vocal for the whole half.  Right after the second goal, everyone could hear her shouting to her teammates, “Bring the pain!”  32’ Tati Jerman was in.  She had a good look on goal, but her shot went high.  27’ back to the other end, Val came out and blocked a shot.  26’ Val half tackled a player in the box to make a stop. 

 

23’ the Aggies got a corner.  Mya took a shot that went high and wide.  21’ an Aggie free kick outside the LAT box.  Mya and ref argued briefly before it.  She didn’t win.  Mya took the kick and Loma made a header pass from the left side of the goal.  Ariana Leamons took the pass and made a header in front of the net for the score.  Aggies back up 3-2!  Loma was shaken up on the play and came out.  She would come back in later.

 

18’ great downfield pass to Bianca near the LAT goal, but the play was broken up.  16’ Xitlaly was given a yellow card just outside the box.  She pushed down a player on a rush.  On the shot, Val fell on a roller.  13’ Shila was on a breakaway.  Holst came way out to stop her.  Shila went down hard like she’d been slapped into the ground.

 

9’ the Aggies got a free kick, which led to a corner.  Loma, back in a couple of minutes before, took a header shot that went out.  5’ Bianca took a hard shot that hit the LAT crossbar.  The ball went straight down.  Shila caught it on the rebound and headed it in.  Aggies up 4-2!

 

Don’t get comfortable.  The players on both sides were talking to each other.  Unlike previously in the game, now it was all general encouragement.  The teams were telling themselves to be tough.  3’ LAT got another penalty kick.  There was no argument on it.  I think it was a handball.  Carmen Suarez cashed it in to make it 4-3.  Two more yellow cards were issued as the clock ran down.  2’ Xitlaly got one for going over the back of a Bulldog.  The free kick was caught.  An LAT player went down in the Aggie box, but there was no call. 

 

1’ the ball went into the stands again.  A fan promptly returned it to the field to a Bulldog player, who thanked him.  Fans around the guy booed him.  Under a minute left, there was an all-out scrum in the Aggie box involving nearly everyone on the field.  No fouls were called.  Val fell on a literal last-second shot.  She stayed on the ground, hugging the ball, for a full minute after the final whistle.  The Aggies squeak it out, 4-3!

 

Mya went over and made friends with the Stone the ref after the match.  Well, that was what it looked like.  LA Tech had the advantage, 6 to 5, in shots on goal.  The Aggies had the corners 3 to 1.  Loma McNeese looked good with a goal and an assist.  The Aggies had four well-executed goals and gave up one good goal.  Unfortunately giving up those two penalty kicks was nearly a disaster.  I’m sure Coach Baarts will be telling the team that they have to be smarter on defense.  

The 2023 Autograph signature card

Autographs

I was gratified that I wasn’t the only adult in line.  (Actually, the adults in line were parents of the kids.)  The girls had a long huddle on the other side of the field.  That broke up and they went to go do some stretching.  A marketing assistant ran over to remind them of the autograph session.  Honestly, I was hotter standing in line than I had been sitting in the stands and was sweating.  I kinda wanted to do this quick.  (Quick note: I see Bella Garcia in the team picture as a trainer.  Darn, I wish I could have seen her play some more.)  

Josie Studer looks nicer with her hair down.  She plays with it up.

Less enthusiastic were the Bulldogs.  They had to walk through the line to get to their bus.  Mostly, they kept their heads down and ignored everyone.  Awkward.  The player that had thanked the fan for getting the ball back to her quickly, later identified as Josie Studer, I think their captain, was more dignified.  She smiled and nodded.  I smiled and tipped my hat to her.  It’s all about making friends.

 

Xitlaly Hernandez was all smiles and first up.  She’s good with the kids.  She has the best hair and best signature.  I saw Sydnee Johnson limping over to the table wearing a boot.  She was all smiles and said it was a bone bruise, but she’d be fine.  (Getting her back playing would be nice.)  I congratulated Gia Valenti on her goal.  (With four goals, I had trouble remembering who all had scored without my notes with me.)  I kind of wanted to say something else and ask how she was doing with Thalia Chaverria’s death, but she all bubbles and I didn’t want to be a drag.        

 

Brooke Schultz and Mya Hammack were sitting together.  I got to tell Brooke that I heard their podcast.  I got spend more time with Mya than I thought I would, but not in the way I was hoping.  I asked Mya if she made friends with the ref after the game.  She immediately began re-litigating what had happened on the field.  (She’d been pushed first, but her shove back had gotten the ref’s attention.)  I didn’t get to tell her she was my favorite and that I admire her iron legs in playing all those minutes.  Not to mention, her and Valerie definitely won picture day.  (Mya looked really cute.)

 

As I moved along, a player shouted to her teammates, “You guys have to pick up the pace!”  There was a pretty long line behind me.  I made the mistake to commenting to Loma McNeese about the cut she’d gotten on her nose during a previous game.  She said, “Yeah, it’s a scar now.”  “You earned those scars,” I told her.  Down the line, “Oh, it’s another Mya,” I said to Mya Gonzales.  “I’m the ‘other’ Mya.  That’s why they call me ‘Gonzo.’”  She seemed a little resigned to her fate.  Valerie Guha was near the end.  She was ebullient.  I said I was surprised she had any voice left.  “I’ve had a lot practice yelling,” she said.        

 

I’m sure the girls were absolutely gassed, but were probably willing to delay stretching and showering to get a little fan adulation.  (Actually there was quite a bit.  It’s looked like there were more people in line than were in the crowd for the game.)  I’m so glad they won and it was a great game, since otherwise I’d be questioning skipping out on watching stuff at home.  Nah, I wanted to meet the girls.  It would have been okay if they hadn’t won.  Maybe I’ll get to run into Mya at another game and can tell her she’s my favorite.  I went straight home.  I had leftover pizza waiting and hadn’t even had a meal yet today.   

NM State Aggies vs UNLV Rebels Soccer 9-7-23

Mya Hammack poster that is currently on my refrigerator.

I’m still not caught up at work from being gone on Friday.  Taking another day off this week wasn’t a good idea.  This Friday I’m going to be very busy at work.  However, after missing the last two soccer matches, I wanted to see the Soccer girls.  Those missed games have been a nil-nil tie and a 3-1 win respectively. 

 

Today, I only managed to go to Legend Burger (so much for the diet, but it was worth it) and I watched the D&D movie finally.  It had its moments.  There were a bunch of Easter Eggs for the long-time game fans.  (I’m assuming the kids from the 80’s D&D Cartoon escaped the trap they were caught in somehow.)  Hugh Grant and Chris Pine were great. 

 

Otherwise, it wasn’t worthwhile.  I wasn’t thrilled over the rest of the casting and the story was questionable in how the heist was set up.  They made sure to give all the characters motivations and yet, they still felt poorly motivated.  I’m glad I didn’t pay to see it.  I was still pissed off over the OGL thing at the time.  The movie is worth watching once (for free).  If only they’d done a live action movie about the 80’s cartoon.

Mya Hammack and Brooke Schultz looking charming for their interview.

I also listened to a local podcast featuring Mya Hammack (my favorite) and Brooke Schultz.  They talked about their careers and how they got on the team.  They are from the Pacific Northwest and played together up there on a club team in this offseason.  Mya mentioned she’d been converted to defense this year.  I thought I remembered she was an offensive player last year.  She’s also played every minute this season.  Coach Baarts must like her, too.          

 

It was at least a nice night for a game.  It was warm, maybe a little muggy, but there was a cool breeze blowing across the field.  There were some dark, scattered clouds.  It looked like it might have been raining outside of town, but there wasn’t a threat of rain in town.  I went wearing my new Aggie bucket hat.  (I probably looked like an idiot.)  I picked up a tea and popcorn, which would be my dinner after that heavy burger.  The ref waved to me when I came in.  I smiled and nodded.  It was the same ref I’d said I told to have a “good game” at an earlier game.                

 

A good crowd turned out (over 600).  I was worried the NFL Kickoff would take away from it, but even some of the Aggie Football team came.  The UNLV Rebels (I guess they dropped the “Runnin’” part) brought a few fans, including one beautiful blonde that might have been a player’s sister.  She sat somewhere behind me, so she wasn’t a distraction, however another beautiful girl sat in front of me that was a spitting image of KerolSmile, one of my favorite Twitch streamers.  A friend of hers came in and sat next to her, so I didn’t get to meet her, which was probably a good thing.

 

The warmup music was horrible, as usual.  The worst was a sampling/remix of House of Pain’s classic Jump Around.  It was bad and remaking sampled songs is distasteful in and of itself.  Valerie Guha was back starting in goal for the Aggies.  It was strange that she came in as a sub late in the previous game.  Brooke also started the game.  She’d been out with injury this season.  Two of the Rebels were kneelers during the Anthem.  That’s way more embarrassing than my floppy hat.

 

First Half

The Rebels got an early corner, but nothing came of it.  Both teams seemed to be feeling each other out for the first 10 minutes.  38’ left in the half, a hard kicked ball went straight into the stands.  It missed an older woman across the aisle.  Worried it would hit someone behind me, I reached out to deflect the ball, which I did.  It went to the bottom of the stands, where another fan put it back in play.  Ow!  Those balls are hard and that was a hard kick.  I was fine for the rest of the game, though I’m typing this with sore fingers now.  (And they’re still sore the next day, I already had a high degree of appreciation for goalies and that’s only increased now.)

 

36’ Sydnee Johnson made the first real Aggie attack on a rush, which the Rebels’ goalie, Lucia Guemes, fell on.  35’ Mya H. made a nice breakup of an attack and a rear-facing kick.  34’ Ariana Leamons took a high shot on the Rebel’s goal.  Then, disaster!  Right after that shot, a high bouncing goalie kick came down to the Aggies’ end to a Rebel player.  Two defenders were chasing it and Valerie came out to get it, but all they could do was watch helplessly as the ball was chipped into the goal.  Cassie Villanueva was credited with this very soft goal.  1-0 UNLV.

 

The Aggies redoubled on offense.  31’ Jena Johannes took a long shot from the wing.  29’ the Aggies made some good passing on an attack.  Gia Valenti took a shot that went high and wide.  25’ here we go.  Bianca Chacon made a rolling free kick on the outside wing of the Rebels’ box to Gia, who rolled it right past Guemes, 1-1 tied.  I was glad that the Aggies at least wouldn’t be losing because of that first goal. 

 

23’ Villanueva made a blatant grab on Ari’s jersey.  That was an easy yellow card call.  21’ the Rebels took a shot on the wing.  It went high, very high.  I think the wind caught it, as the ball flew into the excavation pit behind the south goal.  19’ there are mass subs for both teams. 

 

17’ Rebel corner kick, Valerie made a good save on the follow up shot that was right in front of the goal that might have been kicked with a knee.  16’ off an Aggie corner, there was a foul in the Rebel box.  I didn’t see the foul, but there was no argument as Bianca was given a penalty kick.  (It was a handball.)  She buried it with anger.  2-1 Aggies. 

 

13’ Tati Jerman and a Rebel player had each other in headlock on the far side of the field.  The ref broke them up.  12’ Aggie corner.  Guemes made two nice saves.  9’ good Aggie passing caught the Rebels off guard.  Shila Rasoul had a nearly open shot on goal.  Guemes managed to cutoff her angle to stop the shot. 

 

4’ a well set up Aggie attack was spoiled by a slip on the turf in the Rebels’ box.  3’ a very hard liner shot on the Aggie goal.  Val caught it, no problem, though I think I felt it from the stands.  1’ Rebel counter against one defender.  The shot went wide across the goal. 

 

Disaster struck again!  With under a minute left, a Rebel free kick at midfield ended up by the Aggie goal.  Two Rebels were right there.  Where were the Aggies?  Heading to the locker room?  Michelle Madrid made a great pass and Marley Salveter headed the ball right in.  Halftime and we were suddenly tied at 2.  Shots on Goal were even at 3 and Corners at 2.  

 

Halftime

I’m glad I wasn’t in the Aggie locker room.  Coach Baarts was probably already planning on letting the team have it for that first goal.  He must have been apoplectic after the second.  Both goalies were warming up during the half, likely glad to be out of earshot of their coaches. 

 

[Annoying Monday Edit: Okay, I was pretty sure I saw that I saw the backup goalies warming up at halftime, which would make sense given the game situation.  However, it’s hard to get the goalie’s number in play, which is why I write it down at the beginning of the match.  They didn’t post the official stats that night, when I wrote out this out, nor the next day.  I went with what stats were posted, which didn’t mention the goalie change, even though I was pretty sure it had happened.  I’ve since edited the post.]

 

The Outlaws Pep Band and the Drum Line performed enthusiastically and . . .  oh my goodness . . .  the Hot Pan Am Girl was there putting the performance on Aggie Social Media.  Be still my heart.  Between her, the two hot girls in the stands, and Mya (and some other girls on the team), I don’t know how I concentrated to take notes.  (I didn’t.  I missed naming all of the goal scorers.  If I got some other names on plays wrong that’s just normal for me.)  PAG was in a black tank top and little black shorts.  After the performance, she walked across the field by herself like a dream.  The Band could have played her out with Dreamweaver.

 

Second Half

The Aggie girls returned to the field still holding their red ears.  Karolanne Lafourtune subbed in for the Aggies in goal and Hanne Breur came in for the Rebels.  I don’t know if I’d necessarily blame either first half goalie for the four total goals, but both coaches probably thought it’d be better to make a change.  43’ Mya H. moved up on offense and took a long shot, which sailed over the Rebel’s goal.  40’ a great pass downfield by Mya Gonzales to Bianca and then to Xitlaly Hernandez, but there was no shot taken.

 

39’ a Rebel attack in the Aggie box was foiled and a corner after.  38’ Shila made a rush into the Rebel box, but was blown offside.  37’ near disaster.  Karol punched away an accidental own goal attempt by Jena and then fell on another shot.  Jena seized up in front of the net after nearly giving the Rebels the lead.  36’ Karol made another point blank save. 

 

The action going up and down the field at this point was furious enough that I couldn’t keep up.  34’ Karol made another stop from a shot on the wing and caught the corner kick that came after.  33’ Loma McNeese did some fancy dribbling front of the stands to the delight of the crowd and passed to Bianca, who passed to Shila for a shot.  Breur fell on it. 

 

It’s a disaster movie!  29’ another high bouncer from the other side of the field (apparently off an Aggie header) went past Mya H. and over Karol.  Villanueva was right there behind them to shepherd the ball in with a nudge for her second goal.  3-2 Rebels.  (Up to this point, I was going to say Karolanne probably won the starting goalie job.  Afterward, I wasn’t so sure.)

 

26’ Xitlaly got hurt away from the ball.  There was a stoppage as she limped off field, though she’d return later.  25’ Loma turned and took a quick kick off a corner.  It went just high.  24’ Bianca took two shots.  One was blocked by a defender.  The goalie fell on the other.  21’ with some good passing, the Rebels got into the Aggie box and took a shot across the goal.  They got a pair corners with the attack, but nothing came of them.

 

18’ Ari took a long shot that was caught.  17’ a shot off an Aggie corner was caught.  14’ Loma took a desperate-looking long shot that went way off.  13’ Karol scooped up a rolling shot.  10’ Meredith Scott was knocked down by the Rebel box making a charge.  No call.  Right after, she took a long shot that was caught.  Meredith was really hustling all over the field in the second half. 

 

8’ the Band took a direct hit.  Thankfully, the music didn’t stop.  7’ Mya H. made a long shot that was caught.  Mya had moved up into an offensive role by this point.  6’ a yellow was given for a delay by UNLV.  4’ Shila had an open shot and hit the side of the net.  2’ Mya H. took another shot that just missed.  With under a minute, the ball took a bounce over the north auxiliary stands.  It wasn’t recovered until there were 10 seconds left.  I doubt it mattered.  Time expired.  Aggies 2, UNLV/Aggie Misplays 3.

 

That was disappointing.  Like the ASU game, I think the Aggies beat themselves more than were beaten.  Actually, tonight, I’m sure of it.  Credit to UNLV for capitalizing on all of the Aggies’ mistakes.  They also did a good job of neutralizing Loma, Sydnee, and Xitlaly.  I thought the Aggies did a really good job of getting the ball into position to take a shot several times, but didn’t finish.  Apart from their lapses, the defense and goalkeeping were very good.  UNLV finished up 7-5 in shots on goal and 6-2 in corners. 

 

Now, all I have to look forward to is a bunch of work on Friday and sore fingers.  At least, I have the weekend off from Aggie sports reporting.  I need to recover after a couple of bad losses.  

 

A Ref, Valeria Guha, Mya Hammack, Ariana Leamons, and Bianca Chacon all standing for the Anthem, unlike UNLV.

NM State Aggies vs ASU Sundevils Volleyball 9-3-23 Part 2

What a sweet group pic.

 

Continued from Part 1.

Set 2: Aggies 1, Sundevils 0

The Aggies and Sundevils switched ends.  ASU’s Claire Jeter took charge in the players’ huddle.  They looked serious and angry.  The teen girls got up and posed for Flex Cam.  By the way, where was the Football team?  Were they at the Soccer game?  I thought I saw them there in a picture.

 

Ryleigh Whitekettle had a solo block to tie the score at 1.  Sydney McIntosh got another kill for a 2-1 lead.  ASU had a great dive save on the point.  ASU took a 3-2 lead, though the Aggies had a great save on the point.  Syd tied it at 3 for her seventh kill.  The score tied at 4 as both teams traded service errors.  ASU aced for a two-point lead.  Alex Connatser came in and got a kill with a full swing.  ASU aced again.  Ry put a swing into the net and the Aggies took a timeout down 11-6. 

 

A buff young man who was likely on an Aggie Sports team worked it to Walk Like an Egyptian for Dance Cam.  Mari Sharp got a kill.  Bella Garcia came in to receive on the point.  Ry was blocked on a double team.  ASU was focused on her.  They weren’t focused on Syd, as she racked up three more kills.  Darian Markham aced and Syd and Kacia Brown teamed up for a block to make it 15-12 ASU.  Timeout ASU.

 

Out of the break, Sydney got her eleventh kill with 0 attack errors.  Starr Williams fired a kill directly into libero, Mary Shroll’s chest.  Kacia and Alex teamed up for a block to make it 17-15 ASU.  And then Marta Lavinska went on a serving run and the Aggies called a timeout down 20-15.  Mari finally broke it up a point later.  Ryleigh got a kill, but ASU got an ace to get to set point.  The Sundevils took the set, 25-17, as Ry fired out.

 

Set 3: Aggies 1, Sundevils 1

A couple of Volleyball alumni were recognized on court.  For Dance Cam, the teen girl middle school volleyball team sitting in front of us had a whole routine worked out for it.  A pair of service errors started the set.  What a great way to start.  ASU aced up 3-1, but then had another service error.  They then aced again.  Down 7-2, the Aggies called a timeout.  The team looked obviously tired.  That’ll show up in serve receive really quick.  The coach talked to Mari, as both aces were off of her.

 

Out of the break, there was an argument with the official about the rotation.  Starr made a couple of kills, Rilen Garcia served an ace (and then had an error), Kacia had a tip kill, Mari took flight for a kill and got another kill, but the Aggies still trailed 12-9.  Sydney had her first attack error a couple of points later and then was blocked on another swing.  15-9 ASU.  Timeout Aggies.  The coach talked to Syd. 

 

Ryleigh racked up a couple more kills, though Darian served out for the team’s seventh service error, 17-11 ASU.  More seriously, Starr dove for a dig and came right out.  (What have I said about “Bigs” going for digs?  Oh yeah, don’t.)  Ashley Herman came in for her.  19-11 ASU, Lavinska spiked a kill directly into Darian’s face.  Thankfully, she was fine. 

 

I got to see Maggie Lightheart come into the game.  I was happy for that, but it kind of meant the coach was throwing.  Ashley got her first kill, eventually.  The officials disagreed with each other on the call.  Coach Jordan finally had to challenge to overturn the call to get it.  Aspen Aldous, the third setter, also got on court.  Experience for the reserves aside, it was an ASU wipeout, 25-12.

 

Set 4: Sundevils 2, Aggies 1

Dad was getting either bored or uncomfortable from the seat or both.  Pistol Pete was here and was going around getting pictures with fans.  The teen girls were taking selfies all during the match, but did stop to do a well-coordinated dance routine to Blinding Lights while singing along.  I was impressed. 

 

Ashley started the set.  I was happy for her to finally get playing time, but then figured out it was because Starr was either injured or hurt and the coach didn’t want to risk her getting injured.  The set started with a long rally, which Ryleigh finished with a kill off a block.  Bianca Perez then served up an ace.  The Aggies went up 3-1 with another Ry kill.  ASU challenged, but was denied.  In the break, the teen girls danced to that song where the guy is giving dance instructions.  (Obviously, I don’t know what it’s called.) 

 

Sydney added another kill to make it 5-2.  Ash took a couple of shots and missed one and was blocked on another.  ASU tied it at 5 as the Aggies were called for being out of rotation.  ASU aced to take the lead.  Syd hit the net and by 8-5 ASU, Coach Jordan called a timeout.  They were on a 6-point run.  The coach looked calm in the huddle though.

 

The Sundevil roll continued.  Lavinska got her tenth kill.  The Aggies finally broke the run on a challenge, 9-6 ASU.  The teen girls were singing along with Baby, Baby in the break over the PA.  Anji Vishwanathan and Aspen came in.  10-8 ASU fired directly into the court on their side of the net for an Aggie point.  Aspen had a great one-handed save on the play.  Anji got a kill and along with Ryleigh.  14-12 ASU, Ashley got a kill.  Mari served an ace.  Ry tied it at 14 on an overpass kill.  ASU challenged, but was denied.    

 

That was as close as it got.  16-14 ASU, it was a near Aggie kill, but great save put the ball back in play for a Sundevil kill.  Ash got two kills to get the score within 1.  One kill was off a couple of players.  The other hit the corner.  Syd made a kill down the line.  ASU tried to challenge, but PA Ed announced that they were out of challenges to the cheers of the crowd.  Adam thought ASU was out before the last challenge and after writing this out, I agree, unless rules have changed.  The lesson for the refs is don’t mess up early, because all your calls will then be questioned for the rest of the match.

 

ASU aced to be the first to 20.  The Aggies took a timeout at 21-17 ASU.  The teens sang along to I Don’t Care.  They know all the songs.  Mari had a kill.  I noticed Aspen had taken over as the second setter from Rilen.  Maybe the coach wanted more height at the net.  23-19 ASU, after Ry got stuffed twice on swings, Aspen made a backset and nobody was there on the other side.  Oops.  Aspen did get a kill off a dig on a set point.  The Aggies were called for a net violation on the final point.  Coach Jordan made a half-hearted challenge, just to give the match one more final delay, but it was denied.  ASU took the set 25-21 and the match 3-1.

 

Darian and Starr sub in and out

Here’s your stats.  For the Aggies, Ryleigh Whitekettle had 14 kills.  (Unreasonably, we now expect double digit kills for every match.)  Sydney McIntosh had a career game with 13.  Bianca Perez had 27 assists.  Darian Markham led everyone with 19 digs.  I was impressed with Ashley Herman.  She learned quickly out on court, which was great to see.  Whatever her injury was, she did not seem to be affected by it. 

 

For the Sundevils, Marta Levinska led with 14 kills, Geli (Jelly, cool name) Cyr had 13, and Roberta Rabelo had 10.  Setter Shannon Shields had 40 assists.  ASU was up 9 to 4 in aces.  The teams were equal in service errors at 7.  The Aggie gotta work on the serving, as usual.   

 

Coach Jordan blamed service pressure for the problems after the first set.  He also felt they weren’t blocking well.  He didn’t say anything about Starr’s condition.  About Sydney’s performance, the coach said they were taking advantage of a mismatch in the ASU lineup.  That’s good scouting.                                                      

I enjoyed the match, even if it did turn out about how I thought it would.  ASU is still undefeated, though they did drop a set to all three teams in the Invitational.  I would have really been disappointed if the Aggies didn’t take a set.  If Starr hadn’t gone out, maybe they could have done better.    

 

Dad said he enjoyed the game.  I’m not sure if he really did.  He didn’t want to get any diner afterward, so I took him home.  (Oddly, dad asked me to drive him, though the university is only five minutes away from us and he drives somewhere almost every day.)  I had to go to grocery store right after and picked up a pepperoni calzone from Albertson’s.  It was pretty tasty and even with the spicy meat, I did not have a repeat of the McDonald’s experience.  We’ll hope the team bounces right back from this game.