LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- A record-setting block performance led No. 9 BYU women's volleyball past New Mexico State in a 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-21) win Saturday afternoon at the Pan American Center.

"I was impressed with the fight in this group," BYU head coach Shawn Olmstead said. "We weren't very good offensively, but our defense was unreal. Alohi (Robins-Hardy) did great at sparking our team when we were down. This was a good, tough win."

Amy Boswell collected a team-high six solo blocks, which set a new BYU record in the rally-scoring era. Whitney Young tallied nine total blocks on the day and Jennifer Hamson added six blocks (including three solo blocks) and seven kills in the victory. BYU as a team totaled 20 blocks, which ties for 10th most all-time in the BYU rally-scoring era and most in a three-set match.

Alexa Gray had 10 kills and three blocks for the Cougars. Ciara Parker contributed 15 digs and Camry Godfrey Willardson had 18 assists.

BYU (7-2) took a quick 9-1 lead against New Mexico State (3-5) in the first set with help from consecutive kills by Hamson. The Aggies followed with a 4-1 run of their own to bridge the gap to five at 10-5. A Hannah Robison kill later extended BYU's lead to 10 at 17-7. Four-straight points from New Mexico State then brought it within six at 17-11 and forced Olmstead to call timeout. A Boswell kill opened up set point for the Cougars and a Gray kill ended the set 25-16. 

Robison started things off in the second set with a kill for BYU. The Aggies took a 6-4 advantage from a 4-0 run that included a pair of Cougar attack errors. BYU then went on a 4-0 run of its own to retake the lead 8-4. The two teams traded points from there with the Aggies retaking a 14-12 lead. The Cougars again retook the lead in the back-and-forth battle at 20-18 after a Tambre Nobles kill. BYU ended the set on an 8-1 run, including a block that gave the Cougars a 25-19 win.

New Mexico State jumped out to a 4-1 advantage early in the third set with a block. The Aggies maintained their lead at 12-4 after a block from New Mexico State's Gwen Murphy, which forced a BYU timeout. A 7-2 run for the Cougars ensued following the break, bringing BYU within three at 14-11. The Cougars eventually retook their lead at 16-15 with help from a Hamson kill. BYU continued to spread the gap at 21-17 after another Robison kill. The Cougars' momentum continued to the end of the set as BYU took the set and matcn 25-21 from a kill by Nobles.   

The Cougars continue play on the road next Tuesday when they travel to Pocatello, Idaho, to take on Idaho State. Live stats and a video feed for the match, which begins at 7 p.m. MDT, can be found on the BYU women's volleyball schedule page. 

PROVO, Utah – No. 9 BYU women’s volleyball heads back out on the road Friday and Saturday to take part in the UTEP/New Mexico State Invitational.

After falling to No. 5 Washington in five sets at the BYU Invitational, the Cougars (5-1) look to bounce back and defeat their first ranked team of the season in No. 14 Colorado State. BYU will then face off against UTEP and New Mexico State on their respective home courts.

No. 14 Colorado State

• The Cougars will take on No. 14 Colorado State Friday at 11 a.m. MDT on a neutral New Mexico State court.
• BYU is 49-28-1 overall against the Rams, having last won 3-1 in a 2012 invitational match.
• Colorado State is currently 5-1 on the early season, with its only loss coming against No. 4 Wisconsin. The Rams face Denver Tuesday night before heading to the tournament.
• They return five starters and their libero to a team that went 28-2 overall in 2013 and participated in the NCAA tournament.

UTEP

• BYU will next face off against UTEP Friday at 7 p.m. MDT on its home court.
• The Cougars have a perfect 24-0 record against the Miners, with their last win coming during conference play of the 1998 WAC season.
• UTEP is 1-5 so far this season, having defeated Western Illinois last week.
• The Miners return just two starters to their team, which took ninth in Conference USA play.

New Mexico State

• To conclude the UTEP/New Mexico State Invitational, BYU will travel back to the Aggies’ home court Saturday at noon MDT.
• The Cougars hold a 29-5 record against New Mexico State. BYU’s last win against the Aggies was in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 2012.
• New Mexico State is 3-3 to begin the year and returns just two seniors to its squad that participated in the 2013 NCAA tournament.

VIDEO/STATS

BYU’s match against New Mexico State will be broadcast live on AggieVision in the New Mexico area. It will also be streamed live on watchespn.com. The Cougars’ match against UTEP will also be streamed live. Links to video and live stats can be found on the BYU women’s volleyball schedule page.