HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston volleyball team avoided a loss in straight sets but fell to NM State at Johnson Coliseum on Saturday afternoon in Conference USA action.    

Despite dropping the first two sets of the day, a late effort by the Bearkats (9-9, 4-3 in CUSA) cut the Aggies' lead to 2-1 with a win in the third. NM State (10-9, 4-3 in CUSA)) was able to erase a four-point deficit in set four, however, to close out the 25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 25-18 to win the first of two matches set for the weekend.  

Alyssa Fielder led the Bearkats with 11 kills while, while Lyla Washington and Michaela Panekova had nine each. Avery Fowler just missed a double-double with 36 assists and nine digs.  

Hannah Baker had 18 digs, but the Kats hit at just a .077 clip for the afternoon while the Aggies swung at a solid .214.  

The teams will tee it up again Sunday at Johnson Coliseum with first serve set for 1 p.m. in the final regular season meeting between the two. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.