WACO, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-17) decision to No. 16 Baylor in Saturday's opening match at the Hampton Inn and Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational inside Ferrell Center.
 
The Bobcats (0-2) used a young starting squad that featured four freshmen, one sophomore and one senior. The Bears (2-0) started five upperclassmen and a sophomore All-American.
 
True freshman Janell Fitzgerald led TXST with eight kills, while senior Megan Porter, sophomore Tyeranee Scott and true freshman Sarabi Worsley-Gilbert all tallied seven kills. True freshman Emily DeWalt (17) and junior Cheyenne Huskey (15) both registered double-digit assists.
 
Yossiana Pressley paced the Bears with 20 kills and 10 digs, while Shelly Fanning added 11 kills and four blocks. Braya Hunt (20) and Hannah Fluegel (17) combined for 37 assists, while Tara Wulf led with 13 digs.
 
BU led the match in kills (47-40), attack percentage (.312-.209), assists (43-40), aces (4-2), and digs (44-43).
 
SET 1
Baylor took an early 6-5 lead and never trailed again in wrapping up the opening period 25-21. Texas State got within two on three separate occasions, including climbing back at a 23-21 deficit, but the Bears were able to secure the last two points to claim the set. Porter tallied six kills to just one error in the frame.
 
SET 2
The Bears powered into a 2-0 advantage thanks to a 26-24 second-set triumph. Texas State controlled the tempo early and found a 14-11 lead, but a 7-3 run swung momentum back to the favor of the home side. The remainder of the period featured five ties, with the last coming at 24-24 following a kill from freshman Janell Fitzgerald. BU got a side out and a kill from Pressley to polish off the frame.
 
SET 3
The home club closed out the sweep with a 25-17 third-set victory. TXST was able to battle into a 7-6 advantage and stayed within two trailing just 15-13, but Baylor closed the morning session on a 10-4 run.
 
The Bobcats are set to wrap up play in Waco against (RV) LSU at 5:30 p.m. later today.
 
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