SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team opened the 2019 season with a solid victory as they defeated Liberty 3-1 (25-13, 24-26, 25-21, 25-18) Friday afternoon at Strahan Arena.
 
The Bobcats' (1-0) win increased their home winning streak to eight, dating back to Sept. 28, 2018, while the Lady Flames (0-1) suffered their first of the season.
 
The Maroon and Gold finished with two players to reach double figures in kills, led by senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey's 16 kills (.367) and true freshman Courtney Heiser who put on a show in her collegiate debut as she recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore setter Emily DeWalt logged her 22nd career double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs, and also accounted for three of the home team's 11 service aces.
 
Liberty's senior outside hitter Casey Goodwin led the team with 15 kills and was followed closely by junior outside Amelia Johnson who had 14 kills. Senior setter Hannah Morris had a match-high 42 assists and junior libero Macy Phillips had a match-best 19 digs.
 
Texas State led Liberty in kills (49-47), hitting percentage (.235-.211), digs (48-42), and aces (11-3), and both teams tied with 46 assists. Liberty held an 8-4 advantage in blocks.
 
"I am very pleased with the win," head coach Karen Chisum said. "Of course, we saw things that we need to work on, but we won the serving and passing game which is a goal we always have. We know Cheyenne [Huskey] will get her numbers, but I was very pleased with the play of our freshmen, especially Courtney Heiser and Allie Smylie. I thought Kayla Granado did an excellent job as well We are glad that we got the first win out of the way, now it is time to focus on USC."
 
Set 1
The Bobcats came out of the gates firing on all cylinders as they opened the match with a 5-0 lead that ballooned to a 16-8 advantage, forcing the Lady Flames' second timeout of the set. Liberty could only get as close as six points in the set as Texas State overpowered the visiting club to a 12-point 25-13 victory.
 
Set 2
Both teams battled in a second set that featured six ties and five lead changes and ultimately, Liberty tied the match with a 26-24 win. The Lady Flames gained their first lead of the match at 5-4 and took a 12-8 lead before the Bobcats asked for time. Although Texas State found themselves tied late in the set at 24, an attack error by the home team followed by a kill from Liberty's senior hitter Anna Gragg brought the set to a halt.
 
Set 3
Huskey and Heiser came alive in the third set as they each found the floor six times to lead the Bobcats to a 25-21 set win and a 2-1 match lead. TXST's largest lead of the set was at 13-8 that forced Liberty to take a timeout, but after the timeout, the Flames went on their own 13-8 run to tie the set at 21. It was all Bobcats from there, however, as Hesier put down a pair of kills, Liberty's Gragg assisted with an attack error, and junior Brooke Johnson sealed the set with an ace.
 
Set 4
For the first time all match, Liberty scored the first points of a set and jumped out to a 5-2 lead. The Bobcats battled back and tied the set on three separate occasions before taking the lead at 9-8 and never relinquishing it again. Sophomore middle Jillian Slaughter led Texas State with four kills in the set and registered three of them during the Cats 10-4 run to conclude the set and match.
 
Other Notables
• Coach Chisum is four wins away from 900, all recorded at Texas State.
• Sophomore defensive specialist Kayla Granado had a team-high 11 digs and recorded one ace.
• Freshman Allie Smylie tied for a match-high of four blocks along with Liberty's Gragg, Morris, and sophomore middle Kailey Macy.
• DeWalt and senior Micah Dinwiddie had a match-high three service aces.
• Slaughter had six kills in the match, four in the clinching set.
• Junior Kenedi Rutherford totaled five kills in the match and had 1.5 points from blocks.  
 
Texas State will return to Strahan Arena at 7 p.m. tonight (Aug. 30) to battle with No. 14 USC and complete day one of its opening weekend.
 
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