Ziegler Returns Today, Aggies At Lobos Tonight

Stephanie Ziegler

BATON ROUGE, L.A. - After breaking her tibia and fibula against Rice on Friday, Aggie volleyball sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Ziegler is scheduled to return to Las Cruces on Tuesday afternoon.

Ziegler underwent successful surgery Friday night after admittance to Baton Rouge General’s Bluebonnet hospital.  The surgery was performed by Dr. Bryan Griffith who works with LSU athletes.  Ziegler has been resting in the hospital with Kim Herbert, assistant athletic trainer for New Mexico State Athletics who stayed with Ziegler after the team’s return home to Las Cruces on Sunday.

“The thing I’m most looking forward to about being in Las Cruces is seeing everyone,” Ziegler said.  “I really wish I could go to the game (tonight against New Mexico).”

The Aggies played two matches on Saturday, against North Carolina and No. 21 LSU.  In between matches, the team and coaching staff visited Ziegler in the hospital, lifting her spirits. “It was really good to see my teammates,” Ziegler said.  “We laughed and joked like it was a normal day.  I’m glad they all fit into my room so we could be together.” The injury occurred with Aggies leading the Owls in the first set 19-13.  Ziegler who started the match was staking claim to the starting role on the left side of the Aggie rotation, opposite Kayleigh Giddens.  Ziegler was attacking the ball on the left pin, with her momentum taking her towards the net and she came down wrong. “I didn’t know it was broken immediately,” Ziegler said.  “I looked down and saw it dangling there, that is when I knew.” The Aggies travel to Albuquerque tonight to play the Lobos in Johnson Gym at 7 p.m.  NMSU has dominated the series as of late winning ten straight before last season when the Lobos won in the Pan-American Center.   That match was pivotal to both teams’ post season fates.  It was one of the keys to New Mexico earning an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament and blocking the Aggies from returning to the NCAAs.  Tonight’s match will be aired live on KSNM AM 570 in Las Cruces, with the pregame show starting at 6:45 p.m. and is expected to have NCAA Tournament implications.

Ziegler Returns Today, Aggies At Lobos Tonight