SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State and Arkansas State went to five sets twice in 2013 and Sunday's match looked like it was headed that way until the Bobcats clinched it in four (25-17, 25-21, 21-25, 26-24) to improve to 14-9 on the season and 9-2 in the Sun Belt Conference.
 
Lauren Kirch was strong throughout the match, finishing with 16 kills on a .500 hitting percentage. She added two aces, three blocks and three digs for Texas State.
 
In the third set, Keeley Davis came on strong, putting down six kills in the frame and finishing with 12 kills on a .312 hitting percentage. She added two blocks and five digs.
 
Meanwhile, defensively at the net, Amanda Watkins dominated for the Texas State. She put down six blocks, three of which were solo blocks. She even tallied a block with one hand in the second set.
 
Shelby Vas Matt led the team in digs with 12 while Kelsey Weynand and Sierra Smith both had 11 digs each. Setter Jordan Moore added nine while Brenna Lyles was able to dig eight. Moore gave out 19 assists, but Ali Gonzales gave 30 assists with eight digs. Smith added seven more assists for the Bobcats.
 
Texas State dominated the first set, hitting .345 in the frame with 12 kills and just two errors. The Bobcats held Arkansas State to just a .053 hitting percentage, forcing nine errors in the opening frame. Both teams hit well in the second set, but the Bobcats had the edge, .273 to .211. It was a close set, but Texas State stayed on top to win it, 25-21.
 
After the intermission, the Red Wolves came out with a renewed vigor and jumped out to a 6-3 lead. Arkansas State pushed the lead up to 15-9 before Texas State four in a row behind the service of Kirch to close the gap to 15-13.
 
Down 21-16, the Bobcats made another run sparked by Davis, who was unstoppable in the third frame. Her and Kirch teamed up for two blocks in the run while Davis added a kill to help Texas State go on a 4-0 run to pull within one, 21-20. Arkansas State stayed in control late and lasted one more set with a 25-21 victory in the third.
 
The fourth set was some of the most exciting volleyball the fans at Strahan Coliseum have seen all season. The Bobcats jumped out to a 7-1 lead to start the fourth with kills from Watkins, Jordan Kohl and Alexandra Simms. Texas State extended the lead to 11-3, but the Red Wolves made the slow climb back, ultimately tying the set at 17-17.
 
After that, Arkansas State took a lead at 19-18 on a kill from Shelby Holmes and again at 20-19 on a Texas State error. Down one, the Bobcats scored three consecutive points with a kill from Kohl, an ace from Kirch and an ASU attack error to go up 23-21. Arkansas State again clawed back to tie the fourth set at 23-23 and also at 24-24.
 
That's when Simms, a senior outside hitter, came up big with a kill in the middle of the court to put Texas State up 25-24. Vas Matt followed it with a kill off the block to clinch it for Texas State.
 
The Bobcats will have another split weekend next week, playing the team's first match of the week on the road at Sun Belt Conference leader UALR at 7 p.m. Thursday before returning home to host Georgia Southern at 7 p.m. Saturday.








Head Coach Karen Chisum talks about the win over Arkansas State




Senior Alexandra Simms Postgame Reaction




Sophomore Shelby Vas Matt Postgame Reaction






 

.@TexasStateVball defeats Arkansas State in four sets, (25-17, 25-21, 21-25, 26-24). #TXST — Star Sports (@UStar_Sports) October 19, 2014

Good luck today @TexasStateVball #TXST #EatEmUpCats — Fastbreak Club (@fastbreak_club) October 19, 2014