MONROE, La. – Texas State (19-7, 11-1 Sun Belt) logged its 11th sweep of the season after surviving ULM (11-16, 1-10 Sun Belt) in straight sets, 25-22, 25-15, 26-24 Friday night at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Bobcats have now swept the season series vs. ULM for the seventh consecutive season and extends their 2019 winning streak to nine in a row.
“Well, I will take the win although I am disappointed in our play tonight,” said head coach Karen Chisum. “We did not pass the ball very well and hit a .174. I told the team afterward we cannot win the conference playing like that. We must be ready physically and mentally to play no matter who is in front of us. Yes, hats off to ULM who played way better than the first time we played them, but we were also really bad. But again, I am glad we got out with a win and now the most important match is the one on Sunday vs. Louisiana.”
Both clubs hit under .200 although the Bobcats held the advantage .174-.112. The Bobcats also outplayed the Warhawks statistically in kills (40-31), assists (36-26), and digs (63-46), and narrowly won the battle in aces (5-4) and blocks (7-6). With the win, Texas State completes its first season sweep of 2019 after defeating ULM earlier this year (Sept. 29). The Bobcats improve to 46-2 all-time against the Warhawks and have won the last 15 meetings, including sweeping the last seven consecutive matches.
The Bobcats had a pair of players finish with double-digit kills including senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey who registered her 10th double-double this season with 16 kills (.353) and 10 digs. She also added two blocks. Sophomore outside Janell Fitzgerald had 10 kills in the match on a .412 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Emily DeWalt nearly had a double-double herself after turning in 35 assists and had nine digs. DeWalt also finished with a match-high three aces and added one block. Junior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott led the team with four blocks and senior defensive specialist Rylie Fuentes led the back row with 13 digs.
Juniors outside hitter Ina Gosen and middle blocker Alix Christi led ULM with seven kills apiece. Gosen also paced the team with four blocks and two aces, and Christi finished with two blocks. Sophomore setter Mckinley Thiede had 13 assists and freshman setter Darby Fisher totaled 11 assists. Freshman outside hitter Madeline Hogan led all players with 19 digs.
Set 1
The Bobcats and Warhawks played a tight opening set featuring 12 ties and five lead changes that ultimately ended in a 25-22 victory for Texas State. Both teams fought to a 22-all set before Fitzgerald closed the frame by scoring two of the final three points. Both clubs hit under .100, but Huskey led all players with six kills followed by Fitzgerald’s five.
Set 2
TXST scored the first three points of the stanza and although ULM tied the match on six different occasions, the Bobcats never gave up the lead. With the score tied at 10, the Bobcats separated themselves with an 8-0 scoring run and cruised to a 25-15 victory to take a commanding 2-0 match lead.
Set 3
Both teams went on a number of runs and found themselves locked in a 15-15 set before ULM took the lead at 17-15, forcing the Bobcats to burn a timeout. Texas State leveled the field at 18, and a kill by Buettner put the visiting team back on top 19-18. The Bobcats did not relinquish the lead again as they sealed the match with a 26-24 victory.
Texas State will end the weekend at noon Nov. 3 vs. Louisiana in Lafayette, La.
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