Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  | Coach Chisum (Video) l Kirch and Vas Matt (Video)
 

HOUSTON – Texas State split the team's two matches on opening day, winning a five-set thriller against Lamar (25-27, 30-28, 23-25, 25-23, 15-9) but dropping to Wake Forest in four, 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22).   In Texas State's first action of the season, the Bobcats tinkered with their lineup a bit through two matches, but saw major contributions from freshman Lauren Kirch, sophomores Shelby Vas Matt and Keeley Davis and senior Alexandra Simms among others.   In the first match of the season, the Bobcats survived a hotly contested five-set match against Lamar that saw two sets go to extra points and two more end in 25-23 scores. Texas State ended up on top though, 3-2 (25-27, 30-28, 23-25, 25-23, 15-9) to start the season 1-0.   The Bobcats used a balanced attack that saw five players reach double-digit kills led by Kirch. She finished with 14 kills and put together a well-rounded performance in her first collegiate match. She led the team in service with three and added eight digs and three blocks. Her effective service helped the team tally 11 aces in the match to just five for Lamar. Vas Matt and Sierra Smith were the other Bobcats with multiple aces, each finishing with two.   Simms was second on the team in kills with 12 while Vas Matt, Brooke Smith and Davis each finished with 10. Vas Matt made it a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs to go with her two aces. Libero Sierra Smith led the team in digs with 17. Freshman Alex Silver added seven digs in her first collegiate action.   The Bobcats used two setters in the match with Ali Gonzales tallying 29 assists and Jordan Moore finishing with 25. Texas State also put down seven blocks with Amanda Watkins notching four and three each for Kirch and Brooke Smith.   Both teams played a back-and-forth match through much of four sets, but Vas Matt and Davis came alive late. The sophomore duo combined for three kills in the first two sets and eight in the first three. In the final two sets, however, Davis and Vas Matt put down 12 combined kills to finish with a combined 20 to spur the Bobcats past the Cardinals in the season opener.   The Bobcats fell to Wake Forest in the second match of the day, 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22). Texas State stuck with a balanced attack as four Bobcats combined for 42 kills. Both Vas Matt and Davis improved on their first match performance with 12 kills each while Simms finished with 10.   Vas Matt made it two double-doubles in two matches with 10 digs in addition to her 12 kills and added three blocks. Moore set the entire second match for Texas State, giving out 43 assists with a team-high 15 digs. Libero Sierra Smith added 11 digs.   At the net, Watkins again led Texas State in blocks with four while Kirch and Simms matched Vas Matt's three blocks.   Texas State will look to move above .500 against host Houston at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Shelby Vas Matt and Lauren Kirch on the team's performance in the first match of the day, a five-set win against Lamar


 
Head Coach Karen Chisum on the Bobcats first day of action.