SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State swept Appalachian State Friday night for the team's third consecutive sweep at home. The Bobcats moved past the Mountaineers, 25-21, 25-23, 25-22, to improve to 12-8 on the season and 7-1 in Sun Belt Conference play behind the setting of
Jordan Moore and the offense of
Kelsey Weynand.
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Moore gave out 37 assists, averaging 12.33 assists per set, to orchestrate the Bobcat offense in a 5-1 rotation Friday. She was also sneaky enough to put down four kills. With Moore setting, Weynand achieved a career high in kills with 18 on the night to lead all players. Her previous career high was 17 set against UTSA and UT Arlington this season.
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In addition to Weynand, freshman middle blocker
Lauren Kirch put down 13 kills while
Shelby Vas Matt finished with seven and nine digs.
Sierra Smith led all players in digs with 13 and
Brenna Lyles added 12. The Bobcats put down seven blocks with five from middle blocker
Amanda Watkins.
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Appalachian State started strong with four consecutive points to start the match and gain a 4-0 lead until Weynand put down the first Texas State kill of the match. After that, the Bobcats answered with a 7-1 run to claim a 9-7 lead. They extended the run to make it a 10-2 streak for the Bobcats and push the lead to 12-8. From there, the Bobcats were able to close out the first set for the early 1-0 lead.
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Weynand was unstoppable in the opening set, scoring 10 kills with just two errors on 18 attempts for a .444 hitting percentage to open the match. Meanwhile, Moore gave out 18 assists to help Texas State hit .319 as a team with 21 kills in a dominating opening frame for the Bobcats
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Texas State opened the second set with a 3-1 lead. After the Mountaineers fought back to regain a lead, 6-4, the Bobcats answered with a three-point run thanks to a kill by Kirch and consecutive double contact calls on Paige Brown, Appalachian State's four-time Sun Belt Conference Setter of the Week.
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The Bobcats were able to take advantage of another three-point run to gain an 11-8 advantage with kills from Moore and Weynand in the run. Later, with a 16-14 lead in the second set, the Bobcats scored on an App State service error. Then Texas State scored three more points with Lyles in service for a 20-14 lead.
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The Mountaineers were able to tie the set late, 23-23, but Moore surprised Appalachian State with a kill and Vas Matt put one down for the final point on an impressive, scrappy play from Texas State. Moore had to run to the other side of the net to put the ball back in play and Vas Matt finished it.
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In the final set, Texas State hit .270 as a team with 16 kills. In the middle of the set, the Bobcats got hot for five consecutive points to take it from tied at 9-9 to a 14-9 Texas State advantage. Weynand and freshman
Jordan Kohl each had a kill in the run.
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Weynand was able to hit her personal best 18
th kill to give Texas State match point at 24-22, then she set up Vas Matt for the final point of the match to clinch it.
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Texas State currently sits second in the Sun Belt Conference behind undefeated UALR. Sunday, the Bobcats return to action when they host UL Monroe for a 12 p.m. match at Strahan Coliseum.
Head Coach Karen Chisum on the big winKelsey Weynand on her career nightLauren Kirch on rebounding from a loss
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