Nation’s longest win streak snapped by TXST volleyball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team halted the nation's longest winning streak with a 3-1 (25-15, 15-25, 25-20, 25-18) victory over Stephen F. Austin Tuesday night.
The match was contested inside Russell Gymnasium on the campus of Central Heights High School. The Bobcats and Lady Jacks were originally slated to meet inside the home of SFA volleyball – Shelton Gym – but a transformer blew 20 minutes prior to first serve and knocked out power to the entire campus. The event was moved outside town to the local high school and start time was delayed by one hour.
TXST improved to 8-3 on the year and halted SFA's 11-match win streak. The Lady Jacks (11-2) had also won 11-consecutive at home dating back to last season.
Sophomore Megan Porter again shined following a 16-dig, 13-kill performance. Senior Jaliyah Bolden threw down a match-high 15 kills, while junior Madison Daigle added 11 of her own. Senior Erin Hoppe contributed 29 assists, while true freshman Brooke Johnson earned 21 assists and 10 digs. The sophomore duo of Micah Dinwiddie (13) and Mattie Adams (10) also posted double-digit digs.
Texas State took control of the match with a 25-15 first-set triumph. The Bobcats went ahead 4-1, but SFA tied the frame at 6-6. The maroon and gold moved back on top 12-6, but the Lady Jacks closed to within two at 17-15. The Bobcats then won each of the next eight points, all on Porter's serve, to earn the early advantage.
The second set was nearly identical to the first, only in reverse. The two sides played to a 13-13 standstill, but Stephen F. Austin used an 11-0 run from there to snatch the frame 25-15.
The Lady Jacks used the momentum to earn an early 7-4 edge in the third, but TXST scored four straight and the frame stayed tight from that point on. It was Texas State who would find the last push, as the visitors took six of the final seven points with the set tied 19-19 to pull ahead 2-1 on the night.
The fourth set was all in favor of the maroon and gold. The Bobcats used a 5-0 push to gain a 12-6 advantage, and they cruised to the final 25-18 margin.
Corin Evans led SFA with 13 kills on just a .152 attack percentage, but she also contributed 10 digs. Ann Hollas (18) and McKenzie Brewer (15) both tallied double-digit assists, and Lexus Cain added 10 digs.
The Bobcats led the night in kills (58-39), attack percentage (.223-.178), assists (56-37), aces (6-4), and digs (65-44). SFA led in blocks (6-5).
Texas State has one final non-conference tournament to complete preparations for Sun Belt Conference action. The maroon and gold will head to Waco, Texas, Sept. 15-16 to compete in the Jason's Deli Baylor Classic. TXST will compete against Baylor, UTSA and St. John's.
TEXAS STATE COACH KAREN CHISUM
Opening Statement…
"The team stayed with our game plan. Our plan was to hit over the outsides, and I thought both of our setters did a very good job with that. We knew that they were a very good team when they were in system, so we wanted to get them out of system. We did a nice job, and it was nice to see the streak go down. We got better tonight. Tyeranee (Scott) had her first start as a right side and made some good shots. Again I want to say hats off to our setters (Erin Hoppe, Brooke Johnson). Mattie Adams was our best server. She really kept us in the game."
On where the team has gotten better…
"We have made big improvements in both our serving and passing game. Our setters have really gotten better, which is huge. We'll continue to work on blocking. Our defense was really scrappy tonight. This might have been the scrappiest I have seen us play this season. Micah (Dinwiddie) struggled early on, but she came back strong in the final two games. It will be nice to see what happens when Effie (Zielinski) gets back and when Halee (Brewer) returns to full strength. Marissa (Kindred) had some nice swings tonight. Overall, it's just been a team effort for us this year."
ULM Loses Five-Set Thriller to NSU, 3-2
MONROE, La. – The ULM volleyball team lost its second home match of the season, dropping a five-set thriller to Northwestern State, 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-17, 25-27, 15-13), Tuesday, Sept. 12.
ULM trailed by as many as six points in the first set, but pulled to within one at 18-17. The Lady Demons finished the set with a 7-2 run to take the first frame, 25-20. NSU hit .389 (17-3-36) in the first set.
With the scored tied at 15-15 in the second set, ULM sophomore Mikaela Worley's kill sparked a 4-0 run, as the Warhawks built a 19-15 lead. ULM claimed the second set, 25-22, on a kill by red-shirt sophomore Catherine Griffith. The Warhawks posted 15 kills in the second frame.
In the third set, NSU raced out to an 18-7 advantage and never looked back en route to a 25-17 win.
There were four lead changes and 14 ties in the fourth set. The Warhawks took advantage of a service error and attack error by the Lady Demons to capture the fourth frame, 27-25, and tie the match, 2-2.
NSU moved out to a 12-6 lead in the fifth set, but ULM put together a 7-2 run to cut its deficit to 14-13. The Lady Demons cliched the set and match on a kill by freshman Hannah Brister. NSU hit .308 (11-3-26) in the final frame.
"It was nice to play a match that was more than three sets," ULM head coach Patrick Hiltz said. "Overall, I thought our effort was outstanding, and it was a good match for us to figure out what we need to work on."
Junior Reagan Rogers recorded a career-best 23 kills to pace NSU (4-7).
ULM senior Jennifer McClendon produced a career-high 19 kills while hitting .325 (19-6-40) for the match. Two other Warhawks hit better than .300, including junior Tara Jenkins .600 (3-0-5) and senior Kalena Caruthers .333 (13-2-33). Jenkins also contributed 19 assists and 12 digs.
"Jennifer (McClendon) made a commitment to get in the gym during the spring, and she's really stepped up her game and provided the leadership we're looking for," Hiltz said.
ULM (3-10) heads to the Memphis Invitational this weekend, with matches scheduled against host Memphis (10 a.m.) and UT Martin (7 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 15 and a match against Nicholls State on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 12 p.m.