NEW MEXICO STATE DOWNS TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN IN THREE
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's volleyball team gave one of the top teams in the region all they could handle Thursday evening.

However, the Aggies overcame an early deficit in the first game and held off the Lady Broncs, 30-27, 30-23 and 30-22 at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

Texas-Pan American got four consecutive service aces from sophomore middle blocker Stephanie Redd (Seguin, TX/Seguin HS) to take an early lead in the first game. But NMSU tied the game at 22, then outscored UTPA down the stretch for the victory.

Freshman outside hitter Heather Bravo (Las Vegas, NV/Durango HS) had nine kills and hit .316 for UTPA. Junior outside hitter Cathi Netemeyer (Los Fresnos, TX/Los Fresnos HS/Iowa) added seven kills, while freshman libero Carol Marcengo (Curitiba, Brazil/SPEI HS) added 20 digs. It was the eighth consecutive match in which Marcengo has had 20 or more digs, and it leaves her with 356 for the season, 24 short of the Lady Broncs' single-season record.

Stevi Adams led the Aggies with 17 kills, Sarah Silagy added 13, and Trinia Cuseo added 10, while Jackie Godber added 19 digs, and Morgan Reader added 46 assists.

"I thought that for the most part, we played well, but we played a team that's legitimately a top 30 team in the nation," said UTPA Head Coach Dave Thorn. "They played well, and they're well-coached. We came out on an emotional high, and we got the jump on them, but then things settled down, and they were tough. You have to play a totally error-free match to have a chance against a team like this."

The Aggies improved to 12-5 with the victory, while Texas-Pan American fell to 10-9. The Lady Broncs will return to action when they host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Parents' Night Saturday evening.

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