SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team were crowned the 2019 Creeds & Crests Classic champions after handling Sam Houston State in straight sets (25-22, 25-19, 25-17) Saturday afternoon at Strahan Arena. The Bobcats (8-5) swept the tournament field (3-0) and extends its win streak to five matches.
 
"I am pleased with our play this weekend and glad to be here at Strahan Arena. Our crowds have been great, and we are lucky to be opening conference play next weekend at home," said head coach Karen Chisum. "On the court, we are playing very well offensively and doing good things defensively as well. Some would say we got off to a rocky start, but I scheduled tough at the beginning and we still have a big match with No. 5 Baylor coming up. But right now, having a five-match winning streak boosts the team's confidence as we enter the next phase of the season."
 
The Bobcats won the tournament title for the second consecutive year led by tournament MVP senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey who totaled 3.20 kills per set and eight aces in the tournament. Joining her on the Creeds & Crests All-Tournament Team was middle blocker Tyeranee Scott and sophomore setter Emily DeWalt. Scott turned in 3.00 kills per set and led the team with 13 total blocks, while DeWalt averaged 11.4 assists and 2.00 digs per set, while also producing eight kills, five aces, and four blocks.  
    
In the match vs. Sam Houston State (4-8), the Bobcats hit .291 and totaled 45 kills, 43 assists, 42 digs, nine blocks, and four aces. Scott went off for a career-high 15 kills on 24 swings with only three errors (.500). Scott also matched a career-best seven blocks (two solos) set earlier this season. Huskey followed with nine kills and paced the team with two aces while also adding three digs and two blocks. DeWalt logged 42 assists, six digs, two kills, an ace, and a block, and junior libero Brooke Johnson had a team-high 12 digs.
 
Freshman outside hitter Samantha Rodgers led the Bearkats with 10 kills followed by junior outside Ashley Lewis who had eight kills and a team-high three blocks. Senior libero Addison Miller had a match-high 15 digs and senior defensive specialist Ashleigh Traylor tied with Huskey for a match-high two aces. SHSU hit .124 on the day with 32 kills and 20 errors on 97 swings, and totaled 39 digs, 29 assists, four blocks and three aces.
 
Set 1
The Bobcats opened the set with a 12-8 advantage led by Scott's five kills. After the first Bearkat timeout, both teams exchanged runs and the visiting team trimmed the lead down to one at 23-22, but the Bobcats scored the final two points with a kill from freshman outside hitter Lauren Teske and a ball-handling error by SHSU. Scott led the team with nine kills on 10 errorless swings in the frame.
 
Set 2
Texas State went wire-to-wire to win the second set. They first jumped out to an early 6-1 lead, however, Sam Houston State climbed back into the game with a 15-11 spurt, bringing the score to 17-16.  The Maroon and Gold responded with a 5-0 run and ultimately closed the set with a 9-4 margin for the 25-19 victory.
 
Set 3
The Bearkats scored the first three points of the stanza, but the Bobcats rattled off seven consecutive points and took a 13-6 lead before SHSU finally called for a timeout. Although the Bearkats found some offense in the set, the hill was too high to climb, and the Bobcats took the set 25-17.
 
Texas State will have a quick turnaround as they travel north of I-35 to challenge No. 5 Baylor at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Ferrell Center. The Bobcats will return home Sept. 27 to open the Sun Belt Conference schedule with a 6:30 p.m. match vs. Louisiana.
 
Creeds & Crests Classic All-Tournament Team
MVP - Cheyenne Huskey, Sr., OH, Texas State
Tyeranee Scott, Jr., MB, Texas State
Emily DeWalt, So., S, Texas State
Elise Smith, So., OH/MB, Sam Houston State
Breanne Chausse, So., OH/RS, Sam Houston State
Brianna McCulloch, Sr., OH, UTSA
Jaimeson Lee, Sr., S, George Washington
 
Creeds & Crests Classic Team Records
Texas State                   3-0
Sam Houston State        1-2
UTSA                            1-2
George Washington       1-2
 
Creeds & Crests Classic Tournament Results
Texas State def. UTSA, 3-1
George Washington def. Sam Houston State, 3-2
Sam Houston State def. UTSA, 3-2
Texas State def. George Washington, 3-0
UTSA def. George Washington, 3-0
Texas State def. Sam Houston State, 3-0
 
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