SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State would not lay down in front of a loud and supportive crowd of 2,533 Bobcat fans in a five-set thriller against I-35 Rival UTSA Thursday night. In the team's home opener, the Bobcats impressed everyone watching with a 3-2 victory (25-21, 20-25, 25-14, 19-25, 16-14) that came down to extra points in the fifth and final set. The Bobcats gave the Roadrunners their first loss of the season, dropping them to 4-1, while picking up Texas State's first win to improve to 1-3.
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Kelsey Weynand stepped up in a big way with 19 kills and 20 digs, both career highs for the junior in her first double-double of the season. She managed to do it with a strong hitting percentage of .292 on 48 attempts and just five errors.
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On the right side,
Jordan Kohl finished with 15 kills on a .323 hitting percentage while
Jaliyah Bolden added 10 kills for the Bobcats. The offense put down 63 kills in the match, 12 more than the Roadrunners.
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The reason UTSA couldn't find open space was due to the work of the Bobcat defense.
Sierra Smith was outstanding at the libero position with 31 digs, just six shy of her Texas State record. In addition to Weynand's 20 digs were 19 from
Shelby Vas Mat and 11 more from
Ali Hubicsak in her triumphant return to Strahan Coliseum after a season off due to injury. Texas State's front line added seven blocks with six block assists from Bolden.
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Texas State also looks to have found the team's setter with
Emily Shelton doing the bulk of the work Thursday night. She gave out 39 assists and added eight digs, five kills and a block.
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The Bobcats were also dangerous in service, tallying six total aces with a team-high three from Bolden. Weynand added two with one from Vas Matt.
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Every set was close except for the third set. The Bobcats came out of the intermission with plenty of energy and it led to a 17-kill frame. Texas State only committed three errors in the third set and hit .368 as a team while holding UTSA to four kills, seven errors and a -.083 hitting percentage. The impressive 25-14 victory in the third set put the Bobcats on top, 2-1, in the match, but UTSA would force a deciding fifth set.
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Like most of the match, the fifth set was back and forth, and it would continue that way even after the Bobcats snagged match point. After Weynand put the Bobcats up, 14-12, two Texas State errors helped UTSA tie the set. The Bobcats, however, were not shaken. Shelton set Bolden up for a kill to grab match point yet again, and a UTSA error finished the match for the Bobcats.
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The Bobcats will continue the Delta Zeta Classic Friday with matches against Prairie View A&M at 12 p. m. and Lamar at 7 p.m. followed by a meeting vs. Indiana at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Weynand reacts to great win over UTSAFinal Point vs. UTSA
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