JONESBORO, Ark. – An electrifying comeback fell short for the Texas State volleyball team (10-7, 2-1) as they suffered its first setback in conference play to Arkansas State (10-5, 1-2) in five sets (23-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-21, 6-15) Friday night at the First National Bank Arena.
 
"Proud of the fight we had after being down 0-2, but Arkansas State wanted it more than we did," said head coach Karen Chisum. "They were very scrappy and dug the lights out. They deserved to win the match tonight."
 
After being down 0-2 in the match, the Bobcats battled back by winning the third set convincingly and took the fourth set by four points to force a fifth set. The Red Wolves dominated from there though as they picked up their first win in conference play in what served as their conference home opener. Arkansas State leads the head-to-head series vs. Texas State 10-9 and the Bobcats are 1-4 in their last five matches at First National Bank Arena.
 
The Bobcats had 12 total blocks, marking the third time this season they totaled 10 or more, and had eight aces compared to the Red Wolves four. Arkansas State held the edge however in digs 88-77, with 88 digs being the highest total of any Texas state opponent this season. The Red Wolves also held a narrow advantage in kills (55-50), hitting percentage (.157-.139) and assists (48-45).
 
Senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey led the Bobcats with 15 kills and registered seven digs, five blocks and was one of four Bobcats who finished with two aces. Sophomore outside Janell Fitzgerald finished with 12 kills, three digs, and a solo block, and junior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott landed 11 kills and five blocks. Sophomore setter Emily DeWalt turned in her third consecutive double-double with 39 assists and 14 digs, and also had two blocks and two aces. Sophomore middle Jillian Slaughter paced the team with six blocks and had five kills on the night, junior libero Brooke Johnson had a team-high 18 digs and two aces, and sophomore defensive specialist Kayla Granado had a career-high 16 digs. Senior DS Micah Dinwiddie was the final Bobcat to conclude the match with two aces.
 
A-State's sophomore outside hitter Macey Putt was the only player on the team to finish with double-digit kills (18) and had 16 digs to secure a double-double. Junior outside Peyton Uhlenhake and sophomore middle blocker Timber Terrell each logged nine kills. Uhlenhake had 15 digs and two aces and Terrell recorded a team-high five blocks in the win. Sophomore setter Julianna Cramer also had a double-double with 19 assists and 10 digs, while freshman setter Malgorzata Andersohn finished with 18 assists. Sophomore DS Hannah Cox had a match-high 29 digs.
 
Set 1
Texas State and Arkansas State battled in the first set that saw 11 ties and seven lead changes. The Bobcats jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but the Red Wolves responded with a 5-1 run, gaining the upper hand 6-5. TXST's freshman outside hitter Courtney Heiser later registered back-to-back kills to give Texas State a 16-15 advantage, but the Red Wolves punched back again with four unanswered points to regain the lead 19-16.  The pattern would repeat as the Maroon and Gold took a late 22-21 lead, but they could not hold it as the home team ended the set on a 4-1 run and won 25-23.
 
Set 2
A-State had the momentum and sprinted to a 5-1 lead to open the frame. The Bobcats trimmed the deficit to 11-9, but the Red Wolves built the lead back to 17-11, forcing the visiting team to burn their second timeout of the set. Albeit Arkansas State led by as many as seven points, Texas State continued to chip away and found themselves down 22-21. However, the Red Wolves closed the set with two kills and an ace to win the stanza 25-22 and take a 2-0 match lead.
 
Set 3
The Bobcats made the Red Wolves use an early timeout after Huskey and Scott teamed up for a block to put Texas State ahead 4-1. The Red Wolves endured the early run and took an 8-7 lead highlighted by a 3-0 run, but it was short-lived as Huskey's kill sparked a 3-0 burst for the Bobcats and they took a 13-10 advantage that forced A-State to take their second timeout of the frame. TXST would go into cruise control from there as they went on to win the frame 25-16, escaping the sweep.
 
Set 4
Like the previous set, the Bobcats made the Red Wolves take an early timeout after building a 6-2 lead, but the home team responded with a run of their own to take the advantage at 8-7. A few plays later, Huskey and Scott had another party at the net to get the lead back 11-10 and would hold it for the remainder of the set. With the score knotted at 16, the Bobcats snatched the momentum with consecutive kills from Huskey and Heiser, and a double block from Huskey and Slaughter, bringing the score to 19-16 and pressuring the Red Wolves into their final timeout. Arkansas State continued to fight back and closed the gap 23-21, but a service error by A-State and an ace from Huskey ended the set 25-21 to bring on a fifth and final set.
 
Set 5
After three ties brought the count to 3-3, the Red Wolves scored three unanswered points to take a 6-3 lead to force a Bobcat timeout. The Bobcats and Red Wolves switch sides with the home team leading 8-4 and TXST had to use its final timeout down 10-4. The Bobcats were unable to stop the hemorrhaging, however, and fell 15-6 in the final set.
 
The Bobcats have a quick turnaround as they matchup vs. Little Rock at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Jack Stephens Center. Little Rock was swept in its conference home opener tonight vs. UT Arlington.
 
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