SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State (20-8, 12-2 Sun Belt) got back in the win column by registering its 12th sweep of the season and securing the season sweep over Little Rock (6-19, 4-9 Sun Belt) 25-16, 25-17, 25-18 Friday night at Strahan Arena.
 
Friday's win marks the 26th season under head coach Karen Chisum that the Bobcats have reached the 20-win mark, including the fourth consecutive season it has been done, and the sixth in seven years since joining the Sun Belt Conference.
 
"I thought that was a great team win tonight and we were able to get some other people in tonight to get some exposure and prepare us for the rest of the season," said associate head coach Sean Huiet. "We have been on a mission and we have talked about wanting to play for a championship. Thankfully, we get that opportunity tomorrow night."
 
The Bobcats held the Trojans to a .078 hitting percentage despite only recording two blocks. Offensively TXST had a .286 hitting percentage behind 45 kills and aced LR three times. With the win, Texas State improves to 11-5 all-time vs. Little Rock and have won the last seven matches. The win also places the Cats in prime position to clinch at least a share of the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title if they win tomorrow's match vs. Arkansas State.
 
Senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey led all players with 14 kills and two aces. She also matched a team-high six digs with three other teammates. Sophomore Janell Fitzgerald also had an efficient hitting night by landing eight kills on 17 swings with just one error (.353). Classmate and 2018 Sun Belt Setter of the Year Emily DeWalt finished with a match-high 35 assists to go along with six digs and four kills. Freshman middle blocker Tessa Marshall led the Bobcats in blocks for the second consecutive match after turning in two in addition to six kills for a total of 7.5 points.  Junior libero Brooke Johnson and freshman outside Caitlan Buettner each had six digs to lead the team as well, and Buettner hit a .333 in the match with five kills on 15 errorless swings.
 
Little Rock's senior outside hitter Carol Barbosa pieced together a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs and also chipped in two blocks. Senior libero Diana Giordani matched Barbosa with a match-high 12 digs and recorded the team's only ace of the night. Sophomore setter Nathalia Vigineski led the Trojans with 15 assists and freshman middle blocker Madison Nichols had a match-best four blocks in addition to her five kills.
 
Set 1
The Bobcats came out strong and led the Trojans 15-6 by the first media timeout. TXST scored the first point out of the break to grab its largest lead of the set at 16-6, but the Trojans put together an 8-2 run, bringing the score to 18-14 and forcing a Bobcat timeout. The home team responded with a 5-0 burst, however, and ended the set with a 7-2 scoring run to win it 25-16.
 
Set 2
Texas State jumped out to a 5-1 lead and although Little Rock trimmed the deficit to one at 7-6, the Bobcats never relinquished the lead as they took the set 25-17. The Bobcats led by as many as nine points (22-13) with Huskey leading the way with four kills in the stanza and Fitzgerald and DeWalt followed with three kills each.  
 
Set 3
Little Rock captured its first lead of the match in the third set and led 5-2 before Texas State rallied off seven unanswered points to take a 9-5 advantage. The Bobcats grew their margin to 23-14 and despite a late 4-0 run by the Trojans, the home team ended the match with a 25-18 victory.
 
The Bobcats will close out the homecoming weekend with their White Out match vs. Arkansas State at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 in Strahan Arena.     
 
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