ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team capped the regular season with a 3-0 sweep (25-15, 25-21, 25-13) over UT Arlington Friday night inside College Park Center.
 
The Bobcats head into postseason action with a 24-6 overall record and a 15-1 Sun Belt Conference ledger after spoiling an opponent's Senior Day for the second match in a row. The Mavericks ended their campaign at 15-11 overall and 9-7 in league play.
 
True freshman Janell Fitzgerald returned from a brief two-match hiatus to dominate for the Bobcats. She dazzled with career highs in both kills (19) and attack percentage (.692), finishing with just one error on 26 swings. Senior Madison Daigle compiled 11 kills and no errors on 20 swings for a .550 hitting clip. True freshman Emily DeWalt recorded her Sun Belt-leading 19th double-double with 36 assists and 12 digs, while junior Micah Dinwiddie tallied 15 digs and nine assists.
 
Brooke Townsend and Madison Hill paced the Mavericks with eight kills each. Kylee Kapp (14) and Alex Janak (13) combined for 27 assists, while Kylie Jedlicka registered 15 digs.
 
Texas State led in kills (48-34), hitting percentage (.367-.139), assists (46-34), digs (51-47), and blocks (6-3). UTA led in aces (4-3).
 
SET 1
The opening game saw the visitors come out on top by a 25-15 margin. They initially were only able to find a narrow 9-8 lead, but they ventured on a lengthy 16-7 run that saw the advantage swell out to double digits.
 
SET 2
The second period was the closest of the three, and it was the maroon and gold that secured a 2-0 advantage by winning the set 25-21. TXST went on top 8-7 and played ahead the rest of the frame. The Bobcats were unable to run away with the set – leading by no more than seven at any point – but they also never allowed the home team to pull back level.
 
SET 3
A 4-0 run to open the third spelled doom for the Mavericks, as Texas State closed out the match by winning the final stanza 25-13. UTA was able to get back within two at 8-6, but in the blink of an eye the scoreline read 18-9 in favor of the Bobcats. The remainder of the match was never in doubt.
 
Texas State has now won 19 of its last 20 matches after starting the season 5-5. The Bobcats – who secured their first Sun Belt Regular Season Championship – won 15 league bouts for the first time since 2014. The 24 total victories are fourth-most in the nation and are one shy of matching last year's tally.

Coach Karen Chisum earned victory No. 892 in her illustrious career. She has now moved into a tie for seventh on the NCAA's all-time wins list alongside Mike Hebert (1976-10).

UTA still leads the all-time series 41-39, but Texas State has won 27 of the last 34 meetings. The Bobcats have also captured 18 of the last 20 contests, which includes each of the last eight.
 
Next on the docket for the maroon and gold will be the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championship. The postseason tournament will be contested Nov. 15-18 in Atlanta and will be hosted by Georgia State. The Bobcats have earned the No. 1 overall seed and the accompanying double bye, so they will not begin play until the semifinal round on Nov. 17. The official tournament bracket will be announced following the conclusion of the regular season Nov. 11.
 
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