Sept. 27, 2004
Box Score
Sept. 24, 2004 -
SAN MARCOS, Texas - The Texas State volleyball team picked a crucial Southland Conference road-win on Friday night, winning 3-1 (27-30, 30-21, 30-24, 30-28) over rival Stephen F. Austin (7-3, 0-2). The two teams entered the match as preseason favorites to win the conference regular season title according to the SLC Coaches and SID polls.
After dropping its first two conference matches, the Bobcats have now won two straight on the road to improve to 7-4 overall and 2-2 in conference.
The Bobcats got off to a slow start falling in the first game to the Ladyjacks. SFA was able to control the game with 11 more attacks then the `Cats leading to a four-kill advantage in a game decided by three points.
Texas State did however rebound behind a strong offensive and defensive effort to take the final three games and the match. In the final three games, the Bobcats dominated the attack with 44 kills to SFA's 37, while committing 10 fewer attacking errors.
Overall, the Bobcats maintained a slight edge in attacks (60-to-57) and hitting percentage (.196-to-.092), while committing fewer errors (24-to-37).
Leading the way for Texas State on the attack was junior outside hitter Lizzy Nwoke, who recorded a match-high 19 kills on .161 hittting. Two other Bobcats recorded double figure kills as sophomore outside hitter Kelly Fletcher collected a season-best 16 kills, and senior middle blocker Kacee Rogers had 11.
Senior setter Krystal Kolkhorst continued to play well recording her fourth consecutive double-double with 52 assists and a season-high 21 digs.
The `Cats were able to play its brand of defense by getting after SFA's attacks to the tune of 103 digs, compared to just 86 for the Ladyjacks. Senior libero Kristy Jones set the tone defensively, as she recorded a career-best 32 digs for the match. Joining Jones in double figures in digs were sophomore Karry Griffin with a career-best 20, and senior outside hitter Stephanie Torregrosa with 11 as reached double figures in digs for the fourth straight match.
Texas State now has one match remaining in its four-match road swing, as the `Cats will face the Houston Cougars (1-10) in a non-conference battle next Tuesday, Sep. 28, at 7:30 p.m. The next home match for Texas State will be on Oct. 1, when it plays host to last year's SLC Tournament champions Nicholls State.
