SAN MARCOS, Texas – Senior defensive specialist
Micah Dinwiddie earned her way to the top of the record book in career digs after tallying 13 in what was Texas State's (16-7, 8-1 Sun Belt) 20th consecutive conference victory at Strahan Arena. The Bobcats defeated South Alabama (15-7, 6-2 Sun Belt) 3-1 (25-7, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18) Saturday night to extend their winning streak to six, the longest of the season.
"I am extremely excited about how we performed. The kids have to remember that playing like this is what it will take to win this conference, said head coach
Karen Chisum." It was a great crowd and a great win. It's nice to continue where we are. I am also excited and proud that Micah [Dinwiddie] is the new record holder in digs. Micah has been instrumental for us over these four years and despite her role, she works hard, she does not complain, and she is a solid leader out there on the court."
Led by Dinwiddie, the Bobcats' back row totaled 63 digs with four players in double figures, and the team stuffed the Jaguars seven times to hold them to a .157 attacking percentage. However, the Maroon and Gold shined offensively with a season-high 66 kills on a .372 hitting percentage, a clip that ranks third in the Sun Belt in four-set matches as of Oct. 18. Texas State also registered 59 assists and seven aces, marking the eighth consecutive match the Bobcats have logged six or more aces.
Texas State is now 9-3 all-time vs. South Alabama and have won the last two meetings and six of the last seven contests.
Dinwiddie passed
Sierra Smith (1,646 digs; 2012-15) on her eighth dig of the night and finished the match with 1,652 career digs after leading the club in that category for the fourth time this year. The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year also aced the Jags once, bringing her season total to 18. Sophomore outside hitter
Janell Fitzgerald led the Bobcat offense with a season-high 18 kills (.455) and added two blocks. Senior outside
Cheyenne Huskey registered back-to-back double-double performances after landing 17 kills (.419) and 10 digs, while also matching junior middle blocker
Tyeranee Scott with four blocks who recorded 12 kills to round out the double-digit offensive threats. Sophomore setter
Emily DeWalt nearly had a double-double with 49 assists and nine digs, and she also chipped in five kills, two aces, and one block. Junior libero
Brooke Johnson also had two aces and finished the match with 10 digs.
Junior outside hitter Meaghan Jones led the Jaguars with 13 kills and had three blocks, followed by junior outside Hannah Harris' double-double of 11 kills and 14 digs. She also had one of USA's four aces. Sophomore setter Rachael DeMarcus had 36 assists and one ace in the loss. The Bobcats kept the Jaguars top hitter at bay as senior middle blocker Kelley Hartman finished with nine kills but did equal the match-high four blocks, including one solo. The league's defensive player of the week, senior libero Ashlyn Roberts ended with a match-high 17 digs and also had one ace.
Set 1
South Alabama scored the first point of the match, but Texas State responded with a massive 14-0 run to gain complete control of the set. With the Jaguars using both timeouts early, there was no stopping the Bobcats as they cruised to a 25-7 opening set victory. Texas State hit a solid .519 in the frame led by Huskey (.714) and Fitzgerald's (.571) five kills and the team registered four blocks.
Set 2
A much tighter set saw the Bobcats down 15-13 at the media timeout. The Maroon and Gold tied the stanza at 17 behind a 3-0 burst, but that would be the closest they would get as the Jaguars evened the match with a 25-22 victory, ending the Bobcats streak of 16 consecutive set wins.
Set 3
Texas State jumped out to a 3-0 lead that grew to 13-9 before South Alabama decided to call for time. TXST would grow its lead as large as seven (21-14) before USA used its final timeout, and despite a late 5-0 run by the visiting team, the Bobcats overcame the threat and won the set 25-20.
Set 4
With both teams locked in an 8-8 set, the Bobcats created some space by scoring five of the next six points to go-ahead 13-9 and the Jaguars called their first timeout of the set. Although South Alabama pulled within two points, Texas State boosted the lead to 21-16 to force USA's second timeout and went on to score four of the final six points to seal the match.
Texas State will embark on a four-match road trip beginning in the Carolinas next weekend when they face undefeated Coastal Carolina Oct. 25 in Conway, S.C. and Appalachian State Oct. 27 in Boone, N.C.
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