Box Score

AUSTIN – Texas State struggled through a tough first set against No. 1 Texas, but bounced back in the second set to push the defending national champions to extra points with a quicker offense, better service and a more effective block. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Texas pulled it out in extra points and won the third set to knock Texas State out of the NCAA Tournament with a 3-0 victory (25-13, 26-24, 25-16).
 
"I don't think I could be any more proud of this team," said Head Coach Karen Chisum. "You saw what Texas State volleyball and these ladies are about when we get rolling and when we get that rhythm."
 
The Bobcats were able to find their rhythm in the second set and quieted the Texas crowd on several occasions, forcing three timeouts from the nation's top team.
 
Tied, 1-1, in the second set, the Bobcats allowed Texas to go on a 6-0 run for a 7-1 lead to start the frame. Molly Ahrens was able to stop the run with a kill, one of six she tallied on a night in which she hit .385. She also added three block assists to give her the second best season of block assists all-time at Texas State. Meanwhile, Sierra Smith tallied eight digs to give her 548 on the season for the best ever digging season at Texas State. This night, though, freshman Kelsey Weynand led Texas State in digs with 15.
 
Ahrens' point to stop the run only slowed Texas though as the Longhorns built the lead to 13-2 before Texas State made a furious comeback. After a 6-2 run, the Bobcats were within six points, 15-9. What helped the Bobcats do it was an improvement in service. Ashlee Hilbun served up two aces in the run while Ali Hubicsak served another. Hubicsak finished with two aces and Shelby Vas Matt added one more along with nine digs. Hilbun added eight kills.
 
"We were being a little timid on our serves, and once we got the drive on the ball like we had been all season it really helped us get our confidence back," Hilbun said.
 
The improved service also knocked Texas out of its game as the Bobcats continued to charge forward, finally tying the set at 22-22 on a kill from Alexandra Simms. Both teams continued to trade points from there. When Texas had set point, 24-23, Amari Deardorff put down a kill to show the resiliency of the Bobcats.
 
Deardorff, who finished with a team high nine kills and three block assists, along with all of the other hitters were beneficiaries of a coaching adjustment. The Bobcats started running a quicker offense through setter Caylin Mahoney. She finished with 26 assists, six digs and three kills.
 
"Once Caylin started mixing it up and we were really running fast sets, we were seeing solo blocks and it was a lot easier," Deardorff said. "We felt like we could hang with them and our attitude just totally changed."
 
But after Deardorff's 24^th point to stall set point in the second, the Longhorns put down two kills to go up 2-0 in the match. The Bobcats, however, continued to fight.
 
In the third set Texas State built up a 9-5 lead with a number of players tallying kills in the early going of the final frame.
 
"Once we were able to open up the hitters like me and Ashlee and have a faster offense, it really got  the momentum of the game going," Ahrens said. "It kind of put the game on our shoulders and we got to run at our speed instead of their speed."
 
With the third set tied 11-11, Texas began to assert its will and close out the set to complete the sweep and ensure a second round meeting against Texas A&M at 7 p.m. Friday.
 
The Bobcats complete their season as Sun Belt Conference Champions with a 24-13 record.