LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Sam Houston volleyball team erased a 2-0 deficit to force a decisive fifth set before falling, 3-2, to NM State on Friday night at the Pan American Center.  

The Aggies (16-9, 8-5 Conference USA) hit .417 and .300 in the opening frames roar out to an early advantage only to see the Kats (7-21, 1-14 Conference USA) storm back in Sets 3 and 4.  

Sam Houston delivered its best offensive set of the night in Set 4, scoring 19 kills and hitting .368, but ran out of gas in the finale as NMSU finished with an 11-4 advantage in kills on its way to a 15-8 win in the decider. 

McKenzie Morvant led three Bearkats in double-figure kills with 15. She committed just one attack error on 31 tries to hit .452, putting together her highest kill total in CUSA play this season. Alyssa Fielder and Hailey Heider each added 13 scores and freshman Rachelle Reed led the Kats with five blocks.  

Still, the Aggies just had too much firepower on their home floor on Friday night as they hit .308 as a team and were led by Ryleigh Whitekettle's 20 kills.  

Sam Houston and NM State will square off once more on Saturday at noon CT at the Pan American Center in what will be the regular-season finale for SHSU.