SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State honored the team's seniors the best way it could Friday night – with a win. Senior libero Sierra Smith and senior defensive specialist Ali Hubicsak were able to close their last home match with a 3-1 victory over South Alabama, 25-20, 28-30, 25-12, 25-18.
 Smith was able to finish with 20 digs while Hubicsak added three and kept South Alabama off balance with her service. The leader on the night, though, was Shelby Vas Matt. She finished with 15 kills and 10 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. She started out hot in the first set with five kills and seven digs in the opening frame to lead the Bobcats to an early 25-20 victory.
 
Meanwhile, Jordan Kohl tallied 13 kills while Kelsey Weynand (nine), Madison Daigle (eight) and Morgan Lewis (six) combined for 23 kills. Lewis was active at the net all night, finishing with six blocks, one of which was a solo block, while Kohl wasn't far behind with a solo block and four block assists of her own. Texas State outblocked South Alabama, 11-9.
 
In addition to Smith and Vas Matt's work on defense, Weynand added 10 more digs with nine from Emily Shelton who also gave out 16 assists. Erin Hoppe tallied 32 to lead the team with five digs and a kill.
 
The first set was close despite Vas Matt playing so well and the Bobcats striking 16 kills to South Alabama's eight. But with just a one-point lead, 21-20, the Bobcats took off to close out strong. After consecutive kills from Vas Matt, Lewis put down a huge solo block for set point. She teamed up with Vas Matt for another block to clinch the set.
 
In the second set, both teams treated the fans at Strahan Coliseum to a little bit of extra volleyball, going all the way to 30-28. Kohl put down three blocks in the set to help Texas State outblock South Alabama, 4-1 in the frame. It wouldn't be enough.
 
After falling behind, 2-0, the Bobcats went on a run behind the service of Hubicsak. She served five consecutive points to give Texas State a 6-0 run for a 6-2 lead. South Alabama was able to answer with a 5-0 run before Lewis ended it with a kill. Both teams continued back and forth throughout the rest of the set. After jostling for points, a Texas State service error tied the set at 28-28. Consecutive kills from South Alabama's Mechell Daniel gave the Jaguars their only set victory.
 
Coming out of the intermission, the Bobcats went on a tear in the third set. South Alabama jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Texas State scored 11 consecutive points behind the service of Weynand for an 11-3 lead. The run included two aces with kills from Kohl, Daigle and Vas Matt along with South Alabama errors. After the Jaguars broke the first run, Texas State followed up with another 5-0 run, mostly served by Smith. With that, Texas State was up, 16-5, and never looked back en route to a 25-12 victory.
 
The fourth and final set looked to be close early, but once South Alabama pulled within one, 15-14, the Bobcats took off again with six consecutive points to push the lead to 21-14 before the Jaguars could stop it. Texas State was able to close out the match from there with Lewis putting down the final kill.
 
With the win, the Texas State Bobcats will end the regular season tied for second place in the Sun Belt Conference with Appalachian State, but, due to tiebreakers, the Bobcats will officially be the third seed in next week's Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament to be held in Statesboro, Ga., on the campus of Georgia Southern Friday through Sunday. Texas State is likely to be slated against South Alabama for the opening round so fans should be in for another good match.
 
Continue to check www.txstatebobcats.com throughout the week for updates as the tournament approaches.




Chisum Postgame Reaction




Vas Matt Postgame Reaction