LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- New Mexico State stormed back from large deficits in both the fourth and fifth sets, earning a come-from-behind, five-set victory (25-16, 17-25, 23-25, 27-25, 15-12) for its first win over Arizona in program history.

It was Arizona's first loss of 2018. The Cats, who dropped to 8-1 on the season, will host New Mexico State next weekend as a part of the Wildcat Classic (Sept. 14-15), the final nonconference matches of the season for Arizona.

The loss came despite a career-high 30 kills from Kendra Dahlke, UA's first 30-kill match since Kalei Mau's 31-kill effort vs. Washington State (Nov. 13, 2016). Dahlke had 75 swings in the match, also a career high. She had 15 digs (her third straight double-double and sixth of the year) and three blocks on the afternoon.

Devyn Cross also posted a career high in kills with 11 on just 23 swings. She led the team with four blocks in the match as well.

Paige Whipple and Elizabeth Shelton joined Dahlke and Cross with double-digit kills with 10 apiece.

Julia Patterson came one assist shy of her career high with 61 in the match. She added nine digs as well.

Makenna Martin led Arizona with 17 digs. UA out-dug NMSU 67-60.

Arizona struggled early, dropping the first set by eight points, but recovered nicely with second and third set wins and was dominating in the fourth before it all turned around. NMSU scored 9 of the last 11 points to steal the fourth set and then 12 of the last 17 to win the fifth.

The Wildcats had 11 attack errors in the first set and New Mexico State, which hit .300 in the frame, cruised to a 25-16 victory in the first set.

Arizona flipped the script in the second set, hitting .364 while holding NMSU to an .065 figure. The Cats defeated the Aggies, 25-17, to even the match heading into intermission.

The Aggies stormed out of the gates in the third. They scored the first four points and held that lead for the majority of the set until UA went on a 4-1 run to tie the set at 17. With the set tied at 20, NMSU scored back-to-back points to go ahead 22-20. But Arizona scored five of the last six points to take the set, 25-23.

The Wildcats appeared poised for a wire-to-wire victory in the fourth set to close out the match, but NMSU erased a 23-18 deficit with a 9-2 run to win the fourth, 27-25.

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