Confessions of a NMSU Volleyball Addict

NMSU Release today:

From http://www.nmstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1900&ATCLID=830152


Aggies Ready for the Spring

Courtesy: Rebecca Craig
LAS CRUCES, N.M.-The New Mexico State volleyball team begins the spring season with its first tournament, Saturday, March 24, in Tucson, Ariz. The Aggies play in two tournaments and host a match within the next month.

NMSU joins Arizona State, UNLV, New Mexico, UTEP and tournament host Arizona, Saturday, with play starting at 9:00 a.m. The Aggies return to Tucson, April 7, for matches with the Wildcats and Northern Arizona and the day begins at 10:00 am.

The Aggies head east for the Texas Tornados College Spring Tournament in Houston, Texas that starts at 9:00 a.m. NMSU is one of ten teams in the field that includes Oklahoma, Baylor, Southern California, Wichita State, Alabama, Houston, Rice, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

The spring season concludes for the Aggies when they host UTEP, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pan American Center.

Head coach Mike Jordan said the spring season allows the Aggies to face talented competition and that is especially helpful for the underclassmen.

“We’re going to get an opportunity to play lots of quality teams this spring and that’s what makes your team better,” he said. “This gives us a month to play and compete, which is great for our young players that don’t have a lot of game experience.”

Jordan said he is ready for play to begin but the Aggies have to replace three starters, seniors outside hitter Tanya Allen, outside hitter Alice Borden and setter Jackie Choi.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Jordan said. “I think we have a chance to be better next year, with our athleticism, but we have to find leadership this spring.”

Middle hitters junior Kim Oguh and sophomore Amber Simpson lead the 15 returning players along with Iowa State transfer Alyssa Gintant, who is a sophomore setter, into the spring.

Oguh and Simpson earned AVCA All-American honors in 2006 after guiding the Aggies to a remarkable season setting the school record for the most wins in a season with 33, which included snapping Hawai’i’s 114-conference win streak. NMSU also earned its first at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament and was No. 23 in the final AVCA Top 25 Poll.

posted by Melanie Brooks @ 10:13 PM