Sept. 24, 2009
Box Score
SAN MARCOS, Texas - In the first match of a steady conference schedule, Texas State opened up Southland Conference play with a 3-1 (20-25, 25-6, 25-20, 25-18) win over visiting A&M-Corpus Christi tonight at Strahan Coliseum. Senior outside hitter Jessica Weynand led the attack with 13 kills (.444), while junior right side hitter AJ Watlington added 12 (.409). Texas State's record improves to 7-9, 1-0 SLC.
"It was a huge win tonight," said head coach Karen Chisum. "It is going to be critical this entire weekend to win here while we are at home."
Senior setter Brittany Collins registered 30 assists for her fourth 30+ assist match of the season. The Bobcats hit .391 as a team tonight and held the Islanders to .138. Emma Ridley led the Islanders with 13 kills and seven digs.
The first set was a close one as both teams seemed to be trading point for point. The Islanders took a slight lead over the Bobcats at the 21-20 mark and were able to score four more points to garner the set win. Despite losing the first set the Bobcats outhit the Islanders .440 to .192. Weynand led Texas State in the first set tallying four kills on .571 hitting.
A 6-0 lead by Texas State to start the second highlighted by Collins' serving, pushed the Islanders to call a timeout. The Bobcats reached 7-0 before the Islanders put a point on the board. Nice serving by the Bobcats helped them to extend their lead to 19-5, making the Islanders call another timeout to regroup. The timeout did not help much as TAMUCC was only able to score one point before Texas State capped the set with a 25-6 edge. The Islanders hit -.160, while the Bobcats tallied their second .400+ set with an attack percentage of .429.
Three service aces in the first eight points helped Texas State to a lead of 8-3 to the Islander dismay moving them call once again another timeout to talk about the first few points. The set was tied at 17-All before Texas State created a three-point advantage. A kill by Weynand through the Islander defense sealed the set win for the Bobcats, taking a 2-1 set lead heading into the fourth.
Texas State continued to serve well going into the fourth set. Back-to-back aces by Ally Buitron at 16-9 added to the ace count for the Bobcats and helped move them past TAMUCC, 25-18.
Mo Middleton had four aces, while three other Bobcats recorded three each. Texas State finished with a remarkable 16 service aces.
Texas State returns to Strahan Coliseum on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2pm for a showdown with UTSA as part of the I-35 Rivalry and Legacy weekend. The Bobcats will also host its Dig Pink match on Friday, Oct. 9 at 6:30pm versus UT Arlington. Donations for the auction are needed. Please contact associate head coach Tracy Smith at tm19@txstate.edu for drop-off details.
