MONROE, La. – The Texas State volleyball team swept ULM (25-19, 25-13, 25-19) to kickoff Sun Belt Conference action Friday night inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
The Bobcats (10-5, 1-0 Sun Belt) upped their win streak to five matches in a row and became the first Sun Belt school with double-digit victories for the second-straight year. The Warhawks (6-7, 0-1 Sun Belt) had their season-best four-match winning streak snapped.
 
True freshman Emily DeWalt quarterbacked the offense with 38 assists and added 11 digs for her team-leading eighth double-double of the season. Her primary target was classmate Janell Fitzgerald, who threw down a match-high 16 kills with just three errors on 25 swings (.520). Senior Madison Daigle added 10 kills at a .421 hitting clip, while junior Micah Dinwiddie led all players with 13 digs.
 
Kate Blasingame and Karlee Wilkerson both powered ULM with six kills each. Presleigh Williams (12) and Tara Jenkins (10) steered the offense with a combined 22 assists, while Albany Schaffer tallied 10 digs.
 
The Warhawks entered conference play with the second-best opponent hitting percentage in the Sun Belt this campaign (.160), but the maroon and gold went off for a season-high .358 mark. That tally was also the highest ULM has allowed all year.
 
Texas State held the home team to a paltry .146 attack percentage, while also leading in kills (49-28), assists (46-27), aces (4-0), and digs (52-27). ULM led in blocks, 7-4.
 
SET 1
Texas State claimed the opening period by a 25-19 margin. The Bobcats jumped on top early and led 10-6 at one point, but the home side fought back into a 15-15 standstill. TXST then ventured on a massive 22-7 run that spilled over to the second set. The maroon and gold won 10 of the next 14 points to win the first and then found a 12-3 lead in the second frame.
 
SET 2
The early nine-point deficit proved to be insurmountable for the Warhawks. Texas State extended its lead to as much as 12 points and stayed on top by that margin for the final 25-13 scoreline.
 
SET 3
ULM made things interesting in the third, but in the end the offensive firepower from the Bobcats overcame the upstart Warhawks. The home team went on top 5-2 and held a final advantage at 7-6, but Texas State scored the next two points to take its first lead of the set. ULM fought back into four more ties but could never regain the lead. The final draw was at 17-17, and TXST scored eight of the final 10 points from there to end the night.
 
Texas State improved to 43-2 all-time in the series and now has won 12 straight over the Warhawks.
 
The Bobcats will remain in the Pelican State for a difficult road matchup against Louisiana. The Ragin' Cajuns were one of just two teams to earn a victory over TXST in the regular season last year, and they are 1-0 in league play after knocking off UT Arlington in four sets Friday night. TXST will venture to the fortress known as Earl K. Long Gym for a noon first serve Sept. 23 in Lafayette, La.

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