Volleyball | 9/14/2015 6:52:00 PM

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State returns to Texas after a three-match tournament in Wichita, Kansas, but the Bobcats won't quite make it back to Strahan Coliseum. First, it's a match-up with former Southland Conference rival Sam Houston State at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Johnson Coliseum.
 
Match Info: Texas State (4-7) at Sam Houston State (5-5)
Site: Johnson Coliseum – Huntsville, Texas
Date: Tuesday, September 15 – 6:30 p.m.
 
The Series
Texas State owns the series against Sam Houston State, 54-48-1. The last time the Bobcats met the Bearkats was also in Huntsville as this match will be. Texas State made quick work of SHSU with a sweep (25-19, 25-12, 25-14) back on September 3, 2013.
 
The Bobcats hit an outstanding .380 hitting percentage with 43 kills while holding the Bearkats to just a .073 hitting percentage with 27 kills and 19 errors. Former Bobcats Amari Deardorff and Ashlee Hilbun combined for 20 kills to lead Texas State in the match while Hilbun and Molly Ahrens tallied four blocks each.
 
On the Bearkats
Sam Houston State beat Sun Belt Conference opponent UL Lafayette in the team's last match but fell in both matches before that to Rice and Colorado. So far this year, SHSU is 3-1 at home, playing all of the team's home matches on opening weekend at the Sam Houston Invitational. Tuesday's match will be the first match in Huntsville since opening weekend.
 
The Bobcats will have to stop SHSU's two-headed offensive attack in Brooke White and Jordyn Vaughn, who both have 122 kills each. No other Bearkat has more than 56. Michelle Griffith runs the offense with 365 assists this year, good enough for a 9.86 assist per set average.
 
Claire Kilpatrick leads the team in digs with 172 (4.65 digs per set) and service aces with 14. Vaughn is next with 11 aces while White and Shelby Genung each have 10 aces. Genung leads in blocks with 23 while Amanda Gooch is second on the squad with 17. White has 14 and two others have 10 apiece.
 
On the Bobcats
Texas State faces a tough test in the team's final tune-up before the Sun Belt Conference season this weekend. The Bobcats have struggled away from Strahan Coliseum so far this season, going 1-5. On the road, not on neutral courts, Texas State is 0-3 this year.
 
The Bobcats will look to change that trend Tuesday night against Sam Houston State. Jordan Kohl will lead the offensive attack with 91 kills on the season so far. But, as usual, the Bobcats run a balanced offense with four other Bobcats with 56 kills or more.
 
Lately, Erin Hoppe has had the hot hands with the offense at setter. She also leads the team in service aces with 12 on the year while Shelby Vas Matt has 10. Defensively, Sierra Smith leads the team with 112 digs while Kelsey Weynand has 79 and Vas Matt has tallied 69 digs. At the net, both Morgan Lewis and Jaliyah Bolden have 31 blocks, bolstered by 23 blocks from Kohl and 27 combined from Weynand and freshman Madison Daigle. Daigle will likely get an opportunity to fill a spot for the Bobcats in the middle.
 
A Look Ahead
The Sun Belt Conference season is rapidly approaching, and it will be queued up next for the Bobcats after Tuesday night's match against Sam Houston State. The Bobcats will host Georgia State on Friday at 6 p.m. and UL Lafayette at 12 p.m. Sunday.