LAS CRUCES – Hi Aggie Fans!

Well, we are a month into the season and what a ride it’s been so far. We are fortunate to have five great seniors to help carry us, and they’re all good players and great people.

Jennah Devries and Brynja Rodgers give us two really good setters with a lot of experience. It’s great to get Brynja back after her redshirt season of a year ago. Now we have the ability to play in the 5-1 or 6-2, and we’re very confident in their ability to do well in both systems. There is nothing better than having experience, especially at setter and libero. Kelsi Phillips gives us a great senior libero with a lot of experience as well. Kelsi has a great competitive personality and has become one of the leaders of this team.

Bradley Nash

That group of upperclassmen has played well so far and our young players are getting better each time out. We started the season playing fifth-ranked Nebraska, and we had them on the ropes winning the first two games. Unfortunately, Bradley Nash, one of our outstanding young outside hitters, went down with a knee injury early in the third game. She will have surgery this week, and we are hopeful she will be back in time for 2012 spring practice.

It’s a terrible loss for our team as she is a very good all-around player and not someone you can replace easily.

We’ve been experimenting with different lineups and feel comfortable that we can win in any of them. Fortunately, we have a few players that are versatile enough to play multiple positions. Kelsey Brennan, who has been a middle hitter her entire career is playing on the right side some now, and Deirdre Pajares can play the left or right. Hopefully, the improvement of some of our young players will help make up for the loss of Bradley but it will take some time.

The great news is we are currently 9-2 overall with both of our losses coming to great teams in Nebraska and LSU, and we had our chances to win both. We just beat a good and athletic Texas State team at their place, and we head to Big Ten country this weekend and play Northwestern. Later in the season, New Mexico and Colorado State will be coming to the Pan American Center for non-conference matches, and of course, WAC play is drawing near.

This team plays hard and has a really good chemistry about it. We are going to get better each day and contend for a WAC title and NCAA Tournament berth. This team is certainly fun to watch, and we’re asking all of you to come out to each and every home match and go crazy cheering us on.

For those of you that don’t know this, NM State volleyball has a great group of tailgaters that are outside the Pan Am before every home match. If you haven’t been to a volleyball tailgate, everyone is welcome and you have to experience it.

Make sure you come out and support Aggie volleyball. You’ll love the environment, the pace of the game, and you’ll be helping us reach our goals. Thanks to all of you who do support us and go Aggies.

Courtesy of Barry Sports Information Department

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Former University of New Mexico assistant coach Steve Hendricks has been hired to take over the Barry University volleyball program, director of athletics Michael L. Covone announced on Friday.

Hendricks takes over from Frederico Santos who returns to his alma mater, North Carolina-Asheville, after three years at the helm. Hendricks joins the Bucs from the University of New Mexico where he spent five years as an assistant coach under head coach Jeff Nelson.

“I am very excited and honored to lead the Barry University volleyball program,” Hendricks said. “I would like to thank Mike Covone, Dr. Bridget Lyons, Dr. Darlene Kluka and the rest of the search committee for this opportunity.

“Barry University is an outstanding institution, committed to the NCAA Division II Life in the Balance initiative. The achievements of their student-athletes, both in the classroom and on the court, demonstrate the success of their student-first philosophy. I look forward to working with the strong young women already on the roster, recruiting additional talent to the city of Miami with its vibrant diversity and international flare and competing for more championships for the program.”

In addition to recruiting and on-court coaching responsibilities, Hendricks was responsible for scouting opponents, team travel and summer camps. While at UNM he helped lead the Lobos to two NCAA Tournament appearances, #12 national ranking in attendance, coached four AVCA All-Americans, one ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-American and the team has received two AVCA Team Academic awards. He is heavily involved in the community including serving as a clinician for Special Olympics New Mexico, is a board member for the New Mexico Juniors Volleyball Club and has coached the age groups of 14′s, 15′s and 16′s. In 2009, the New Mexico Juniors 151 team advanced to the national championship tournament in Miami.

He also had stops at the University of San Francisco and Notre Dame. He helped lead the Dons to two of their best seasons on record in 2005 and 2006. While at South Bend, Hendricks helped guide the Irish to eight consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and seven Big East Conference championships. The Irish won seven NCAA Tournament matches, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 1997. His recruiting acumen was proven once again in 2002 when StudentSports.com rated the Notre Dame recruiting class No. 3 nationally.

In addition to his collegiate experience, Hendricks spent three years in the high school and junior ranks as the head volleyball coach and the Assistant Athletic Director at St. Ignatius College Prep. While in Illinois, Hendricks led the Celtic Force Volleyball Club’s 17’s to the 2004 USAV Junior Olympic Championship.

Hendricks graduated from Ball State University with a B.S. in business education. He played four years for the Cardinals helping them to the NCAA Final Four in 1988, 1989, and 1990. He holds a M.S in sport psychology from the University of Tennessee and a M.S. in sport administration from New Mexico.

Hendricks inherits a team which went 16-7 overall, 11-5 and tied for second in the Sunshine State Conference in 2010. The Bucs advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament for the first time since 2006, but return just three letter-winners. Barry opens the season Sept. 2-3 at the Valdosta State Tournament in Valdosta, Ga.

Hertel has been a consistent presence on the sideline for New Mexico State and the Diamondback Volleyball Club.

Radford University, located in Radford, VA, is the home of the Radford Highlanders. The Highlanders finished their 2010 campaign 11-21 overall, and 5-11 in conference action.

He will be joining third year head coach Marci Jenkins in attempting to turn the program around. Next year’s starting roster, likely to feature the team’s five seniors, has new wave of players joining the squad, with eight incoming freshmen.

Much like past assistants from NMSU, I’m confident Chris will find success as he takes on this new challenge; he deserves this great opportunity.

Good luck, Chris!

Courtesy NMStateSports.com

LAS CRUCES, N.M- Head coach Mike Jordan announced that Keith Rubio will be the next assistant coach for the New Mexico State volleyball team, Thursday, Feb. 17.

“We’re really excited to have Keith (Rubio) on staff,” Jordan said. “He’s a tireless worker and a great guy. He’ll bring a lot of energy and experience to the gym and handle a lot of our day to day recruiting.”

Before coming to New Mexico State, Rubio spent seven seasons as head coach at Quincy University. He guided the Hawks to 13 wins in 2008 and increased the teams win total in his first three years. He also led the Lady Hawks to a 19-14 record in 2007, their highest win total since 1998.

Rubio was the assistant head coach of the women’s volleyball team at the University of Oregon. He worked as the program’s recruiting coordinator and camp director. He worked with the setters, middle hitters and liberos.

Rubio has also worked as a first assistant at Boise State University from 1998-2001. There he picked up experience with training and teaching the setters, recruiting, scouting, running of summer camps and community relations, also scheduling.

He was a volunteer assistant at the University of Southern California in 1996-1998, where he also took on similar responsibilities.

Rubio graduated from Cal-State Northridge in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.