Comics Review: Justice League, American Flagg, and the Avengers

Justice League Unlimited: Into the Inferno

I bought these books months ago. I’ve sort forgotten the circumstances why I bought them. This trade was on display at Coas, I think without any discount for being used. I figured out this was set in the World’s Finest universe, which is sort of a more modern version of the classic DC setting. (As opposed to whatever nonsense is going on in the current mainline DC universe.) Having had a good experience with the Superman/Batman team up (8-23-23), I picked this up.

The Dan Mora artwork is great. Unfortunately with the hectic action of the book, it comes off as kind of busy at times. This might have more to do with the coloring. It’s really dark, but also has bright, colorful highlights. The story features the Justice League fighting a worldwide attack on the biosphere. It starts in media res and doesn’t let up for the full five issues. There is a traitor inside the League that’s introduced. By the end, it’s revealed that the Legion of Doom is behind the attack.

The World’s Finest universe was supposed to be a fun, easy entry, kid-friendly superhero setting, but is starting to move towards heavier continuity. This story follows up on a previous storyline that figures heavily into the background of this one. The Justice League has every superhero on call, which makes for a very large cast. It’s a bit unwieldy (like having two Atoms and multiple Flashes), not to mention that Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman still have to be featured all the time.

This all sounds swell, but it didn’t work for me. It’s just too much all at once. It’s frenetic and conceptually, it’s just too big. This isn’t to say that there isn’t some characterization and there are quiet moments. There are huge disasters, but also little acts of small personal heroism. Having all the heroes available and sending them out constantly in small teams to every emergency is exhausting for reader. There is some character building, but it’s a constantly shifting spotlight. (For contrast, see the Avengers trade below.)

The meta continuity isn’t really worthwhile in this setting, either for the characters personally or the overall setting. The characters should be archetypes with strong personalities. They probably shouldn’t bother with ongoing storylines other than teasing the next series. Either go with a much smaller, more or less fixed cast and go with ongoing storylines for the group and for the individual heroes, or continue with their current concept, but ditch the continuity and have the storylines be more self-contained.

I still like the World’s Finest universe, but they’re trying to be everything to everyone all at once. They need to pull it back a bit, like they did when they were just featuring Batman and Superman.

American Flagg! #26

I was aware of American Flagg in the 80’s, but never read it or knew anything about it. (There were so many titles I would have read or collected in the 80’s if I’d had the money.) An article in Back Issue that I read recently was actually my first exposure to the character and the setting (1-17-25).  It was intriguing to say the least. Coincidentally, a Youtube video came up in my feed and that provided more information.

The next time I was at Zia Comics I decided to check their back issues to see if they had any. They had one. I was probably lucky I found that. This comic was more obscure than I thought. The video had mentioned that the first 12 issues of AF were the best and that they were currently available in a new trade paperback. (I checked that out. They were sold out of them. I would have bought it.) I had to settle for issue #26.

This was the last issue in a storyline where Ruben Flagg was in London promoting his porno vid, Mark Thrust. There, he uncovers a complex international plot involving clone cyborg duplicates. It’s complicated, but deftly handled. Ruben does have some romance and personal relationships in this to humanize the story. The story does have great art (lots and lots of zip-a-tone) and great formatting of the pages, which was cited as one of this title’s major influences on other comics of the time.

This is a Howard Chaykin book. These sort of scenes are almost required. This is edgy for an 80’s book, not to mention, the USSR is apparently occupying England on top of it. I might not have found that amusing back then (or even now). Alan Moore writes the backup feature where the population of Chicago is subjected to intense sexual subliminal messaging and they all become deviants, who go to Kansas to act out on their unnatural desires. The next issue is called, “Lustbusters.”

Okay, this wasn’t the best place to start reading the series and yet, it’s likely pretty representative. It’s intellectual. It’s broad satire. It’s juvenile. I’d like to read some more of this, if for no other reason than there’s nothing quite like it. Though set in the near future, it’s also a nice 80’s throwback to simpler times. The only problem is where to get more of it.

The Avengers Epic Collection: The Avengers/Defenders War

I think I bought this with the AF issue.    It’s been so long ago, I don’t remember.    I’d gone to Zia Comics with the intention of getting a certain X-Men trade, but it was no longer there.    I decided to get this instead.    Honestly, neither of these were a first choice option, unlike that X-Force trade (6-17-25).  This was a questionable purchase, but I hoped it might be fun.

   

The feature story is a team up between Dormammu and Loki trying to gather the pieces of the Evil Eye and manipulating the Defenders to do it.    For their part, the Defenders are trying to save the Black Knight, who has been turned to stone, with the artifact.    Loki turns on Dormammu and recruits the Avengers to stop the Defenders, though without explaining to them what’s really going on.    

The split up teams come into conflict with each other with the Defenders actually coming out on top.    Captain America and Submariner’s fight actually ends in the two former WWII allies figuring out that they’re being manipulated.    The final fight is between Thor and the Hulk battling each other to a standstill, before the reconciled teams put a stop to it.   

Dormammu steals the reassembled Evil Eye and is about to assume total power.    As earth’s other heroes fight hordes of demons, the combined teams assault the Dark Dimension to confront Dormammu on his home plane.    The (likely much more powerful) Defenders are incapacitated and Avengers plow into the confrontation anyway.    Surprisingly, it’s the Scarlet Witch who is the final one left.    With a distraction from Loki, she takes Dormammu down.   

(The odd epilogue occurs in an issue of the Defenders, which is reprinted in the book.    The Defenders and the Evil Eye go backward in time to find the Black Knight, now recovered, fighting in the Crusades.)   

From there, the Avengers are summoned to Rutland, Vermont for a superhero Halloween parade.    This unassuming location has hosted several such parades, including in the DC universe.    It was sort of an unofficial crossover event between Marvel and DC.    There is a small, near reference in this issue, but it’s cutoff.    The only reason I knew about this at all was from an article and from reading a Batman comic that was set there.   

The Avengers were fighting the Collector in this story.    He’s a far cry from the cosmic entity from the Guardians of the Galaxy.    He was the villain in Communication Breakdown, a trade paperback that I loved (10-11-18).  My review was criminally short, but to the point.      

The Avengers next fight the Zodiac gang.    The villains’ scheme involved putting a giant cannon on top of the World Trade Center, which was tuned to kill every Gemini in New York City.    If that sounds silly, Captain America somehow slides all the way down the outside of the building to street level during the fight.    Later, the Zodiac gang traps the Avengers in a warehouse, which turns out to be the top of a rocketship that sends them into orbit.   

Speaking of the Guardians, Mantis is prominently featured in this book.    I really didn’t know her origin and still don’t.    The story featuring her and the team going to Vietnam to investigate the man claiming to be her father didn’t resolve anything.    They fight a near invulnerable space monster there that only had a weakness to . . . sunlight.    

Then Thanos shows up with an invading fleet with him.    I’d read part of this story before in a Marvel digest (8-29-17).   This story is finished in an issue of Captain Marvel, which is included in the trade.   This Jim Starlin produced story is probably the best of the volume.    It features Drax the Destroyer and Mantis teaming up with Mar-Vell to take out Thanos.    It’s foreshadowing for the MCU, itself.    Too bad there wasn’t a trade available at the store featuring Starlin’s Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock cosmic stories.       

There’s another family affair in a reprinted Avengers annual, where the Scarlet Witch meets her and her brother Quicksilver’s father, Whizzer.    (What an unfortunate superhero name.)    The Claw then fights the Avengers trying to get at Black Panther.    There was a surprise twist in the story.    Next is the wedding of Quicksilver and Crystal.    The Avengers and the Fantastic Four visit the Inhumans’ sanctuary for the event, but have to team up to take on Ultron, who crashes the party.    He defeats all of them, but child Franklin Richards takes him out with a thought.

   

Lastly, the Scarlet Witch and Agatha Harkness, Franklin’s nanny, team up to enhance Wanda’s powers.    Agatha was featured in a recent Marvel show, though not looking anything like the comic book character.    I was surprised by how relevant this 70’s book was to the MCU.    More significantly, Mantis dumps the Swordsman, her pathetic boyfriend, and makes a play for Vision, who he turns her down to stay true to Wanda.    In the back is an extended interview with Jarvis from FOOM magazine.

This was plenty of comic book at over 450 pages.    If you’re wondering why I’m only posting a couple of pages of art, it’s all very workman-like.    It tells the story and isn’t totally unappealing, but it’s not a selling point of the volume.    Yeah, I know I usually post a dozen pics with any freaking Archie digest, but this wasn’t worth the effort.    It’s 70’s Marvel and not their best stuff, which would probably be Spider-Man of the era.    I can see how Howard the Duck took off.    This book is more goofy than fun, frankly.    Unlike the Justice League, there’s plenty of personal intrigue and friction between the Avengers members, but it’s very ham-fisted.                     

So, this was a somewhat expensive mistake.    You’d best skip it.

NM State Aggies vs UTEP Miners Volleyball 10-11-25

 

And a little additional Aggie Sports coverage later. It was a potentially busy day for events, but also potentially not. It was going to rain in the evening; it was just question of when and how much. We’ll start with Aggie Volleyball’s rematch with UTEP.

In the afternoon, NBC showed a USC/UCLA volleyball match. Though USC is ranked and has a better record, UCLA took them in three sets. (UCLA is a volleyball school now, after their football team lost to the UNM Lobos last month.) I hoped this was a good sign for this afternoon’s match.

The Reese family was also keeping an eye on the weather. We could watch their daughter inside the Pan-Am Center, but their son would be outside this evening at Baseball. I asked Robin how the girls were doing after last night’s loss. She said that the older girls were okay, but the younger ones were taking it hard.

The girls were wearing pink uniforms, which, surprisingly, didn’t look bad. They did seem a little subdued. The crowd was a bit smaller than yesterday at 1792. The UTEP section seemed bigger. Several of them were coming at the same time I was. There were still plenty of kids here for the match. Mustache-less Pete was our Pistol Pete of the Day. Tess Fuqua was starting this time. Jacqueline Corcoran was starting over the taller Kate Sinclair. Coach Jordan was going small.

Set 1

That decision paid off immediately, as Jac got the first kill of the match. Maggie Lightheart made it 2-0 after tooling a block. Then Nellie Reese had a mis-set and the Miners came back. Tess had a no doubt kill to make it, 3-2 Aggies. That lead was short-lived. The Miners took the lead after a Carry call on the Aggies. 3-6 UTEP, Maggie was blocked. The Miner Reserves let off a big cheer. Kaya Weaver then had an ace off Maggie.

It got worse from there. 3-9 Miners, UTEP made an off-court save on a big swing by Jaelynn Kohli. Kate would be blocked on the point to finish it. After another ace off Maggie, the Aggies called a timeout. Out of the break, Kate was blocked. Maggie dug it out, but UTEP finished it with a kill. 5-11 UTEP, Jae came back with a kill. The crowd was still into it and cheered. After that, Maggie and UTEP traded service errors. I don’t know what triggers back-to-back SE’s so often.

7-12 Miners, Kate made a solo block. The crowd roared. Tess was blocked on the next point and the UTEP section roared. Jae had a tip kill at 8-13, but UTEP took the next three points, including another ace off Maggie. She was served at constantly ***last weekend*** and dug them out, but it wasn’t happening this weekend. Ashley Herman, injured on her scooter, was yelling at the team from the bench. Another issue was “high air,” as the Coach would say. They were firing the ball long. 8-18 Jac was blocked and the Aggies took another timeout.

Yesterday, Coach Jordan didn’t seem mad. Today he was. I think he could take losing to a better team, but couldn’t tolerate them beating themselves. 9-18 Miners, the UTEP girls wanted to challenge the play. After all of the reversed calls yesterday, UTEP Coach Wallis wasn’t happy with the refs. Coach Jordan didn’t talk to the team in the break, but the starters talked to each other. The call was reversed, 8-19.

8-20 Miners, this was a low point. There was a nice dig by Makayla Martinez on a serve and the team let the ball drop to the floor. Tess came right back with a kill with some heat. The kids were yelling and cheering. Where would we be without the indefatigable children cheerleading? Tess got another kill on a tip. Makayla made two great saves on the point. 11-21 UTEP adjusted and blocked Tess. Tess pointed to herself to setter Claudia Rossi to take the blame for it.

That’s another issue. Nellie started. Rilen Garcia rotated in, but then she was pulled for Claudia. Nellie was on the bench next to the Coach getting instruction. He wasn’t happy with the setting. I said all three setters should be kept warm and ready to play, but this isn’t how I meant it, not in the middle of a set. Rotating three setters doesn’t usually work, unless the Coach was writing off these two matches and wanted to get them work. Tess had a final angry kill at 12-21. An out swing by Jae ended the set, 12-25 Miners.

Set 2: Miners 1, Aggies 0

UTEP took a 2-1 lead after another ace off Maggie. Their serving was giving her fits. A mis-set by Nellie had Mia Fox taking a swing into the antenna for another UTEP point. Maggie made a swing into the net. UTEP added a setter dump to make it 1-7. The Aggies took a timeout. The usually cheerful Reserves were lifeless.

Mia was blocked out of the break. 2-8 Miners, Maggie had a tip kill, but couldn’t even celebrate as she took a shot to the nose. Not the face! Not that beautiful angelic face! It bothered her for a minute, but no blood. Nellie had a mis-set next, which is so uncharacteristic. I should mention that UTEP was all smiles to this point. One of their servers was even smirking.

4-9 Miners, Rilen came in and Jae got a touch kill. 5-10 Kate buried one and the crowd was yelling. 6-10 UTEP was busted for being out-of-rotation. Kate followed that with at tip kill. Jae made a solo block at 8-10. The crowd was definitely back into it. Maggie had a good 4-point run on serve.

UTEP had a mis-set at 9-12 Miners. Jac made a solo block next. Rilen then had a mis-set, but Tess tooled a block at 11-13. 11-15 Miners, UTEP made a save over the sideline table and got a kill. Maggie came back with a crosscourt kill. 12-17 the Miners hit a hard kill and the Aggies took a timeout.

Trey Reese was on camera in the break. His nieces framed him with souvenirs. They were enjoying it. Robin Reese was trying to be anonymous. Tess and Maggie came back with kills. After UTEP had an attack error, they took a timeout. Was this UTEP’s first timeout of the weekend? The Miners were no longer smiling.

16-17 Miners, Mia dunked one on top a defender’s head. UTEP hit one into the antenna to tie it. The Aggies got the lead on a kill by Maggie, 18-17, and the crowd erupted. Mia increased the lead with a block and the crowd was chanting. Tess had a 6-point run on serve.

UTEP came back. Jae was blocked and the Miners tied it at 19. The UTEP section started chanting for their team. The Aggie fans immediately shouted them down, but on court, the Miners took the lead. Maggie was blocked and she was aced on again. 20-22 UTEP, the Miners had a service error. Jae had a kill after a long rally to fend off set point, but an out swing by Maggie ended it, 21-25 Miners. The UTEP section shouted “UTEP” over the Aggie fight song.

Set 3: Miners 2, Aggies 0

I admit I’d gotten angry early in the second set, as the score got humiliating. I try to remember that it’s just a game, but it’s hard to take getting your nose rubbed in it. I can only imagine what the Aggie players were feeling at that point. The Aggie crowd was a bit deflated. UTEP fans started a chant before play. Maggie and Mia were sharing a laugh on court, so they were able to stay loose and keep it in perspective.

Maggie started the set with a pair of kills, though Mia was blocked by Kaya to tie it at 2. Kaya had an overpass dunk for a 2-3 Miner lead. Jae tied it at 3 with a kill. UTEP had an unblocked kill at 3-5. Jac made a save way off-court on the point. Jae sided out with a kill. Maggie went on serve and the Coach was yelling at her from the bench. Jae came back with another kill and a block to make it, 7-5 Aggies.

7-6 Aggies, the Miners took the point after a huge rally. Jac made a couple of nice digs on it. UTEP retook the lead. 7-9 Miners after an overpass tip. Claudia was back in at setter. Kate had a block to tie it at 9. Tess made a crosscourt kill to tie it at 11. Nellie was setting on the point and made a sliding set from her knees on the point. Maggie tooled a block to tie it at 12.

The Miners took the lead, 13-14, on an unblocked kill. The ball bounced into the stands in front of us. The Media timeout came in at 13-15. The Coach spoke mostly to the ref in the break, instead of the team. The camera found some kids in a suite dancing. The Coach put Bella Castro in for Maggie on serve receive. It worked. Jae got the kill on the point.

15-18 Miners, Jac rotated back in and had a kill and then tooled a block. She was fired up. 17-20 Tess had a kill and Maggie followed that with a kill. UTEP libero Fuka Sekita had a pancake save on the point. 19-20 Maggie tooled a block with a touch kill. Timeout UTEP. Jae would tie it at 21 on a block.

Maggie fired out on the next point, but the Coach challenged a touch. The girls were loose and laughing in the break. I think the crowd was more tense. The call was reversed, 22-21 Aggies. The girls and the crowd celebrated. However, UTEP came back. 22-23 UTEP got an ace off of Jac. Timeout Aggies. The Miners took the next point and the Aggies called their final timeout.

Maggie got a kill on the next point, 23-24 Miners. She took the ball and ran back to serve. Claudia quickly ran back and took the ball from her. It was her turn to serve. I like that Maggie wanted the responsibility, though. Jae tied it at 24 with a kill. Unfortunately, the Miners took the next point and Jae fired out to end it. Miners take the set 24-26 and the match, 0-3.

The Aggies put up a much better fight today than yesterday, but had to be knocked to the mat first. Also, unlike yesterday, the Miners did have play their best to win this. A couple of mistakes on their part might have changed the match. Still, the Miners are more talented and played better. The Aggies didn’t play their best and what’s going on with the Coach and the setters? Their mistakes were out-of-character like they were tight. I don’t know if these teams have bad blood, but the fans might after this. Aggie fans aren’t going to tolerate their house getting taken over.

The Miners out-hit the Aggies .202 to .089, though the Aggies led in kills, 35 to 31. The brutal stat was serving. UTEP had 7 aces and 7 SE. The Aggies had 1 ace and 7 SE. The Miners led in blocks 11 to 7. Serving and blocking are two things the Aggies usually do well. The serving issue might have been mental, but the Miners just did better blocking. The Aggies were much more tenacious against their other rival, the Lobos, but maybe UNM wasn’t as good the Miners.

Once again, Torrance Lovesee led the Miners with 11 kills. Kaya Weaver had 10. Even having issues today, Maggie Lightheart led the Aggies with 11 kills and had the only Aggie ace. Tess Fuqua led the team in digs with 10. I was impressed with Jacqueline Corcoran at the end of the match. She seems undersized, but could really play and with passion. Hopefully, this flips a switch with her performance.

Ominously, in the postgame huddle, the Coach just said, “Meet me in the locker room.” (Or words to that effect.) The girls waved to their families in attendance and then took off. I worry what fate awaited them. Even in victory, Coach Wallis was likely chewing out UTEP for letting the Aggies get back into to this one. (Heck, I was getting mad all over again just writing this.)

Aggie Baseball Exhibition

At least with only a three-set match, the Reese family was able to go to Presley Askew Field to watch their son, Cooper Reese, pitch. The bad news was that during the third set, we were told that it was raining outside. When I got out, it was damp and cloudy, but not currently raining. More seemed to be sure to come, but I was hopeful.

I called Fan Michael from my car, as he had the ticket for me. Cade Shumard’s parents during Volleyball were saying that Cade had their tickets, but they couldn’t get ahold of him. I was just about in the same boat (poor choice of words given the weather). I had to leave a message for Michael. I dithered about what to do, but thankfully he called me back a couple of minutes later.

Let me properly set the scene. It’s kind of cold and rainy, about to be really raining. The advertised exhibition with the Mexican team would not be happening due to their visa issues, so this was just an inter-squad scrimmage. Tickets for this event were $50.

The parking lot was full. Inside the stadium, it was full. I was stunned. Where were these people during the regular season? I asked Michael later about the crowd. His two word response, “Free beer.” It’s true and there was free soda, as well. They had 7-Up’s, which usually nobody carries, and I got an A&W Cream Soda, also rare.

Michael was holding a pizza slice when I met him. I picked up one of those. It was a bit cold. It might have been from Peter Piper Pizza, but deep dish style, and was pretty good. A local restaurant had three tents set up handing out Mexican food. I went back for nachos and cheese quesadas, which were also good.

One of the tents was in the Diamond Club area. They’ve redone it and it looks good with an elevated pavilion. I was able to see the game from there. The food tent was serving something that smelled like barbeque, but maybe looked like tacos. I never got a good look. I stood in line twice, but it was moving too slow with the rain and I gave up. What I ate was pretty filling anyway.

Also, I had to wolf it down. The rain got worse after I got there. I didn’t want my nachos to get soggy. I’d dressed for the possibility of rain, but it didn’t stop me from getting soaked. Michael had also gotten a ticket for Ken. I was sitting with him in the usual spot. Ken announced that he wasn’t planning on going out to games this season. The university had made a huge settlement with former disgraced Men’s Basketball Coach Greg Heiar. Ken didn’t want to support NMSU after that.

A local bank (not mine) was handing out giveaways. I got a small, clear bag with four hand sanitizer pens and three temporary Aggie tattoos. I probably should have declined. They were also handing out car window shades. People were opportunely using them as umbrellas over their heads.

There was a DJ under a tent along the third base line. He was blaring loud Mexican music. This was sort of like Mexican League Baseball, but the music wasn’t stopping for pitches; it was continuous. However, they did not have a midget bat boy working the game. (Michael knew exactly what I was talking about.) Jack Nixon was working the game was the PA.

As for the game play, I did see Cooper briefly in his first inning start. There were some runs scored in the innings I was there. I was told there were programs somewhere, but I never saw them. I sort of anticipated this and didn’t even think about bringing scorecards. It was raining, there was loud music, and I was stuffing my face with food. Paying attention to a ball game seemed unlikely.

I was there for about an hour, maybe three innings, before I couldn’t take it anymore. Ken had left earlier. Trey had gotten to see his son pitch and came by to see Michael. I’d eaten all the food I’d gotten and couldn’t see myself kicking back and enjoying the game. I said, “Thanks for the ticket and see you later.” While there were people in the stands, most of the crowd seemed to be under the grandstand drinking. They were having a good time.

I think the baseball team will be able to play under any conditions after this experience. The organizers could not cancel this event for either the lack of an opponent or the weather. For $50 tickets sold to a bunch of fans, the guys had to play regardless. You’d wish that they’d scheduled this for next weekend when there’s no Aggie Sports going on on campus. Given this was the final game before they tore up the old turf and put in the new one that might not have been an option. We certainly wish they’d put up a new canopy before tonight.

Aggie Soccer

Pulling out of Baseball, I drove by the next door Soccer field. They were just about to start their final home game. I had an umbrella in the car, but I was already soaked. (I could have taken it into baseball, but that seemed dangerous in the close quarters of the stadium. Indeed, Ken almost brained me with his several times sitting next to him.) Still, I nearly stopped at the thought of seeing some of the cuter girls on the team sopping wet. Sigh. It might have been worth it, just to see that fantasy brought to life.

Back at home, what a time not to have any hot chocolate on hand. I was about to buy some last week and didn’t do it. I had to content myself with some hot tea, while checking the live scoring from the game. I was briefly heartened to see the Aggies up on a goal by Amaya Simoni-Walters 38’ in. The rain had also stopped at some point, which made me feel worse about not staying.

However, checking back later, they had lost 2-1 to LA Tech. It was also raining again, so I at least felt better about coming home, though I felt really bad for the girls. The two LA Tech goals had happened late and within five minutes of each other. That must have been crushing. Even worse, the Aggies had peppered them with shots. LA Tech had less than half the shots, but made theirs count.

It was also Senior Day. The listed attendance was on par for just friends and family for such an event (att. 300). What a way to go out at home and they still have three road matches left in the season. A win at UTEP in a couple of weeks is their last chance some redemption. Except for the food, this was a triple header of disappointments tonight and like pulling teeth to write. A weekend off for the fans is in order.

NM State Aggies vs UTEP Miners Volleyball 10-10-25

 

It’s been a long, frustrating, exhausting week. I’m still having issues with a program change work. At home, I spent two days cleaning my apartment (it still looks like crap) and I was running errands today. I did unexpectedly find a $9.99 digest version of All-Star Superman, which I’m looking forward to reading. Lunch was a plate and a half of Chicken Teriyaki from the Mall (and I still have leftovers).

I wasn’t entirely hopeful for tonight’s Aggie Volleyball game against a 14-2 UTEP Miner team, but any excuse to see the girls play. I couldn’t get ahold of dad to see if him and Lamae wanted to come. (That saved me $20.) There was a high school bus pulling into the Pan-Am Center parking lot ahead of me from T or C. At the front door, there was a large crowd of high school girls from various Las Cruces schools.

A blast of cold air greeted me when I entered, but wasn’t as cold inside as last time.  It might have been the crowd that was listed at 2000 that warmed up the place. I’d brought a jacket this time, just in case. UTEP did bring a section of fans. I think some guys from their Football team were also there. I guess they wanted to see what a winning UTEP team looked like. (They had a rough week.)

I sat with the Reese family again. The first thing I found out from Trey was that tomorrow’s Aggie Baseball fundraiser game against a Mexican team was canceled. The Mexicans were having Visa issues coming across the border. [Deleting a half dozen jokes here.] The team would be having an inter-squad scrimmage instead. “But the free food will still be there?” I asked. That’s confirmed, so I’ll be there, weather permitting.

I was also told that Trey and Robin been featured on camera during the last game. They didn’t know about it until after the game. Broadcaster Adam Young talked about them having a son on the Baseball team and a daughter on the Volleyball team. Trey was also on camera during this game. Robin teased him that they’d caught him looking at his phone the whole time. “What do you expect? Should you be striking a heroic pose in that situation?” I said.

Former Aggie libero, Analyssa Acosta, was on the sidelines with Assistant Coach Chelsea, who was looking sophisticated and stunning. Annie was happy to be back. Also back was Tess Fuqua. She was warming up and able to play. She had her hair up, which showed more of her lovely, radiant face. The Reserves were loose and dancing to the music. The Aggie trainer was again making a fashion statement wearing big cowboy boots on court. On the other side of the net, UTEP looked tall and some of their players were big.

A different Pistol Pete was here. This one looked a bit more dignified than the other two, even while wearing a pink shirt for some cause that I’m supposed to be aware of. (Such much for that marketing.) A couple of the girls from the Aggie Soccer team were working as ballgirls tonight. Even at Volleyball, they still allowed an early goal and had to play from behind for the entire match hoping for a draw. (I’m just in a catty mood tonight.)

Coach Jordan and UTEP Coach Wallis embraced after player introductions. They are still good friends. Tess did not start. Jacqueline Corcoran was in for her. Nellie Reese was the starting setter over Rilen Garcia. This was surprising. Captain Maggie Lightheart gave the starters a long talk before play began.

Set 1

Tied 1-1, Kate Sinclair went crosscourt for a kill and that looked good. After a very uncharacteristic bad mis-set from Nellie it was 1-4 UTEP. The coach took an early timeout. He talked to the starters separately from the team before making a full huddle.

That didn’t help. Kaya Weaver dunked an overpass on Nellie at net to make it 1-5. Jaelynn Kohli had a kill at 2-5. (I’m sure Coach Wallis was watching and imagining what might have been if he’d been able to recruit the El Pasoan.) UTEP took the next point after a long rally. Rilen came in to set and Claudia Rossi rotated in right after. The Coach had Nellie sit next to him for a chat.

3-7 Miners, Jae had another kill. Jac followed that with a kill and a solo block. Mia Fox had to kill that closed the score to 6-8, but the Miners took the next point with a kill that nearly took out a Cheerleader behind the court. From there, the Miners continued building on their lead. 6-11 Miners, Maggie was blocked on a swing.

6-12 Miners, Mia took a block to the face. No! Not the face! Not that lovely face! Amazingly, even with that shot, the ball was still live and the point continued. After a long rally, Maggie hit the ball out. On the next point, Maggie let a close serve go and it fell in for an ace. Enough was enough. She got her first kills on the next two points.

9-15 Miners, Jae probably had the kill of the match. In mid-air, she went with her left to punch a ball in for a kill. That was her off-hand. Work on that shot some more. 9-17, it was another UTEP ace to same spot a few points ago. This time, Jac tried to dig it, but couldn’t come up with it. Jae added another kill at 10-17.

At the Turn, the Aggies wanted a touch on an out swing, but the play stood on review. The Reserves were dancing again in the break. At 10-22 Miners, the Coach pulled Maggie for Bella Castro, pretty much conceding the set. 11-24, the Miners got to set point rejecting Kate, which only an opposing team would ever do to our cute middle blocker. UTEP took it, 11-25.

Set 2: Miners 1, Aggies 0

Cooper Reese came in from his Baseball scrimmage. He was wearing a trucker hat that said, “Just here for the wieners.” It was from Wienerschnitzel. (Which reminded me that I really wanted a chili dog for lunch today.) I accused the team of calling INS on the Mexican team. He predictably denied it.

Tess started this set, along with Rilen. That was good to see. What was not good to see was Maggie completely missing out on a serve. That was uncharacteristic. 1-1 Kate and Jae teamed up for a block. “Ace serve from Mighty Mouse!” was the call from PA Ed, referring to an ace by Makayla Martinez. I wonder if she appreciates that nickname or not.

I noticed Miner libero, Fuka Sekita from Japan, would bow to the court before coming on. She had an unorthodox serve standing at the service line and running sideways to deliver the ball. 4-3 Aggies, Tess’ first swing produced a kill. Maggie tooled a block at 5-4 Aggies, crushed an overpass at 6 all, and made a block at 7-6. That’s our girl.

It was a tight set. Jae tooled a block at 8-8. Tess tooled a block at 9-9 and gave the Aggies a lead on a touch kill. 11-11 UTEP took the point after a long rally and some great saves. Wave the Wonder Dog came in with his entourage. He had to sit near the court with most of the other seats in the section taken. 12-11 the Aggies were back in the lead with a kill by Zoe Ziegler.

UTEP got in the lead with an ace off the tape and an ace that hit Bella. The next serve was out, but the Miners took the next point going into the Media timeout, 13-15. Fuka used her odd serve effectively out of the break with an ace off the tape. Maggie came back with a kill down the line and Jae was unblocked for a kill at 15-16 Miners. Jae was blocked at 15-18 and the Aggies called a timeout.

In the break, the Cheerleaders tossed a couple of souvenir footballs to the UTEP Football players. Hey, hey! Orange and blue are Miner colors, guys! 16-18 Miners, Bella made a dive save and Maggie finished the point with a kill. 17-19 Jae smashed a kill that rebounded near Wave. Protect the dog! He’s NMSU’s biggest NIL investment.

The Miners kept adding to their lead. 17-22 UTEP, the Aggies called a timeout. Kaya skipped back to the Miner huddle all smiles. Out of the break, it was suddenly The Tess Show. On three consecutive points, she had a sneaky kill, another kill, and then an ace that fluttered like a knuckleball. Unfortunately, that was it for the Aggies in Set 2, as the Miners took it, 20-25.

Set 3: Miners 2, Aggies 0

The pink shirts and pink hats were given away up front to the students at halftime. I don’t think it hurt the crowd after, nor do I think there were that many students there anyway. (This was nowhere near as cool as the Soccer jersey giveaway on **9-20-25.**)

Jae had an early block, but the Miners took off from there. 1-4 UTEP had an ace that Makayla and Maggie both let go. 2-5 the Miners took the point on a scary, hard kill. 3-7 Makayla missed a dig. I checked Coach Jordan. He was nonplussed with the team for pretty much of the entire match. I think he was seeing what he expected.

4-8 UTEP, Maggie had a tip on the point and was sure there was a touch on it. The Coach challenged it. On the sidelines, our Turkish import, Ezgi Duzgezen, was chatting with a Cheerleader. Earlier, she was talking to the team photographer. She’s a friendly girl, but when are we going to see her play? The call was reversed, 5-7. Right after, Tess and UTEP traded service errors. Every time.

Maggie’s next swing was called long. This was challenged. The camera found Wave in the crowd. The crowd literally went “Ahhh!” for the photogenic canine. Even the UTEP players were watching him. The call was again reversed, 7-8 UTEP. Mia completely misfired on her serve next. What was going on with Aggie serving?

Maggie came back with a couple of kills before firing out, 10-11 UTEP. The play of the match, middle blocker Kate got an assist to setter Nellie for a successful dump shot. Kate might want video of that for her highlight reel. I’m glad I enjoyed that, because UTEP pulled away after that. 11-14 Miners and timeout Aggies. The Cheerleaders threw out the pink bucket hats to the crowd. Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatles! I was suddenly deafened from the squealing girls around me.

Mia tooled a block, but this was challenged and was reversed, 12-19 UTEP. 12-22 an ace off Maggie. The Aggies got the next point, but Rilen missed a set and the Coach looked unhappy, but not angry. 16-24 Maggie’s swing was called out, but it was challenged and reversed. The ref’s weren’t having a great night either. It was a temporary reprieve. Kate got the final Aggie kill, before the Miners took the set, 18-25, and the match 0-3.

Your stat of the match is pretty stark. The Miners out-hit the Aggies .400 to .178. UTEP pretty much couldn’t miss. They were up 40 to 31 in kills. Depressingly, the biggest disparity was 10 to 2 in aces for the Miners. The Aggies’ serving is one of their best assets, but tonight they had 7 service errors with only the two aces. The Aggies were up 4 to 3 in blocks, but that’s scant consolation. Miner Torrance Lovesee led everyone in kills with 12 and had 4 aces. Maggie Lightheart was next with 11 kills. Even on an off night, she led the Aggies in kills.

Nobody seemed too upset about this loss. The Aggie crowd seemed in good spirits. The Aggie players went up into the crowd to see their folks and were smiling. I admit, the match wasn’t close enough to get emotionally attached to. The Aggies hurt themselves with some out-of-character tight play. Switching between three setters didn’t help and not starting Tess, also seemed like a mistake. Even if the Aggies had played better, I think the Miners weren’t even playing hard and could have turned it up if pressed.

I got outside and finally saw a clock. Even with all of the delays in the third set, the match was about an hour and a half. Should I have taken off from work, if I saw this coming? Sure. Anything for the Volleyball girls. We’ll be back tomorrow and also see what happens with the Baseball exhibition, now scrimmage, and the final home Aggie Soccer game.