SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team gave No. 14 Southern California all that they could handle Friday evening in Strahan Arena. The Bobcats pushed the nationally ranked team four sets, but ultimately fell, 3-1 (28-26, 15-25, 17-25, 23-25) in front of 2,583 fans. Friday night's home crowd ranks No. 4 all-time in the volleyball program's history.  
 
"Our kids played a heck of a match," head coach Karen Chisum. "I am so proud of them all because different ones stepped up at different times. USC is bigger and hits the ball harder, but we played some great defense. We transitioned pretty well, and it was just fun to see our girls dig in there and get some of those hard-driven balls and transition and get a kill. This crowd was amazing tonight and after seeing a match like that, they will be back. They are excited about Texas State volleyball and helped out a lot in terms of energy. The girls just did not quit and that is all you can ask for."    
 
The Bobcats (1-1) had three players that finished with double figures in the kill column. For the second consecutive match, senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey led the team as she totaled 13 kills, and freshman outside hitter Courtney Heiser put together her second double-double this season with 10 kills and a team-best 11 digs. Rounding out the top hitters for Texas State was junior Kenedi Rutherford who registered a season-high 10 kills. Sophomore setter Emily DeWalt totaled 36 assists, while freshman middle blocker Allie Smylie led the way with four blocks and sophomore Kaylie Koenen produced two aces.
 
Two USC (1-0) All-Americans led the charge in the victory, including senior O1 Khalia Lanier who had a match-high 17 kills and junior outside hitter Brooke Botkin who had a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore setter and 2018 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention Raquel Lázaro handed out 46 assists, senior libero Jenna Adams had 20 digs, and senior middle Jasmine Gross had five blocks, all of which were match-high numbers.
 
Set 1
The Bobcats stunned the Women of Troy by taking the first set 28-26 that saw 14 ties and four lead changes. Huskey had the hot hand with five kills in the stanza and Heiser followed her lead with four kills. Both teams largest lead was three points in the set and after having set point four times, the Bobcats got over the hump with back-to-back kills from Huskey to steal the opening frame.
 
Set 2
USC struck early in the second set by jumping out to an 8-3 lead. The Bobcats muscled their way back in the set and tied things at 10, but the Women of Troy responded with a 4-0 run that ultimately ignited a 15-5 advantage to wrap up the set, 25-15.
 
Set 3
Southern California continued to have the momentum as they went wire-to-wire to win the third set 25-17 and took a 2-1 match lead. The Bobcats were down 12-4 early but scored three unanswered points to begin to mount a comeback. USC would then build its lead back to eight with the count at 17-9 and kept the home team at bay to close the set.
 
Set 4
The fourth set started with back-and-forth action until the Bobcats reeled off five unanswered points to take an 11-8 lead. Texas State led by as many as seven points in the frame after Rutherford found the floor for the fourth time in the set to give the Bobcats a 19-12 lead. USC stayed the course, however, led by Lanier who registered five kills on eight errorless swings to help the Women of Troy escape with a 25-23 set.
 
The Bobcats will conclude their opening weekend with a 7 p.m. tilt vs. Northern Iowa at Strahan Arena Saturday. Both clubs are receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches' Poll and UNI is coming off of a 3-1 setback vs. No. 4 Texas Friday night.
 
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