SAN MARCOS, Texas – For the third consecutive year, Texas State (23-8) will be featured in the title match of the Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Championship after trampling Troy (22-9) in straight sets 25-14, 25-14, 25-18 Saturday afternoon at Strahan Arena in front of 2,782 fans (No. 4 all-time).
 
"Extremely pleased to say the least," said head coach Karen Chisum. "I thought the big push for us today was our front row defense. We had a season-high in blocks and we transitioned very well into our offense. It was an all-around team effort and I cannot say enough about that crowd. I hope each one of them bring another friend tomorrow."
 
The Bobcats dominated on both sides of the net as they hit .382 and logged a season-high 15 blocks that held the Trojans to a .011 attack percentage.  Junior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott led the charge in that department, setting a Sun Belt Conference Championship record with 10 blocks in a three-set match. Overall, TXST won the battle in kills (40-27), assists (37-26), aces (4-2), and digs (29-23). The Maroon and Gold improved to 11-4 all-time in the Sun Belt Conference Championship and will make their fifth championship appearance since joining the league in 2013. In the head-to-head series, the Bobcats are now 12-0 against Troy.
 
Senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey landed a match-high 13 kills on 25 swings with just three errors (.400) and sophomore outside Janell Fitzgerald was behind her with 10 kills (.368). Sophomore setter Emily DeWalt flirted with a double-double and finished with 31 assists and a career-high nine blocks. DeWalt also added four kills and four digs. Freshman outside hitter Caitlan Buettner contributed six kills, including three in the final set, and in addition to her record-breaking performance in blocks, Scott registered five kills in the victory. Junior libero Brooke Johnson led the back row with nine digs.
 
Sophomore middle hitter Halston Hiller and freshman outside Ashley Guenveur led the Trojans with seven kills each. Guenveur had one ace as did their top hitter junior outside Cheyenne Hays who was kept in check with four kills on 20 swings and nine errors. Sophomore setter Amara Anderson finished with 23 assists, sophomore middle Caitlin Cooper led the team with three blocks and added three kills, and sophomore libero Lacey Jeffcoat had a match-high 10 digs.
 
Set 1
Texas State jumped on Troy early by scoring the first five points behind three blocks and built an 11-2 lead before the visiting team used their first timeout. The Bobcats continued to dominate at the net and extended their lead to 12 points (20-8) and won the set 25-14. TXST held Troy to a -.121 hitting percentage and recorded six blocks in the opening frame.
 
Set 2
Troy came out focused in the second set and led 3-1 before Texas State scored four unanswered points to take a 5-3 lead. Texas State would not relinquish the lead and used a 7-2 run to created separation at 13-8. The Bobcats went on to score 12 of the final 18 points to win the stanza 25-14. Texas State hit .545 in the second set alone with 13 kills on 22 swings and just one error.
 
Set 3
The Trojans looked to avoid being swept and held a 10-7 advantage before the Bobcats called their first timeout of the match. Troy's largest lead of the match was at 14-9 but the Bobcats continued to battle their way back. Still down 16-13, the Bobcats finished the match with a 12-2 scoring run highlighted by an 8-0 burst at the end to win the set 25-18.
 
The Bobcats will face No. 2 seed Coastal Carolina in the championship match at 1 p.m. on Nov. 24 at Strahan Arena. The Bobcats are 0-2 all-time in the league tournament vs. Coastal Carolina. The last time these two met on this stage was in 2017 when the Chants won the title match 3-1.
 
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