SAN MARCOS, Texas – A feisty match resulted in a 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-13, 25-20) victory for the Texas State volleyball team as they topped Louisiana Friday night at Strahan Arena to extend its home winning streak to four.
 
"I am glad that match is over, and we got the win," said head coach Karen Chisum. "We struggled the first two sets, but we regrouped and really started clicking in the third and fourth set. Tonight was great for our confidence as we begin this long journey through the Sun Belt Conference."
 
The Bobcats (9-6, 1-0) have won six of their seven conference openers since joining the Sun Belt Conference with tonight's win, and seven of the last eight openers when counting their lone season in the Western Athletic Conference (2012). Friday night, Texas State did most of its damage with a decent offensive strike that outhit its Louisiana (4-10, 0-1) .237-.130, recording seven attacking errors in the latter two sets after committing 14 in the first two stanzas. The Bobcats' back row played well as they totaled 97 digs with five players reaching double figures. The total number of digs is the second-most in a four-set match and fourth-highest total overall in the Sun Belt this season.
 
TXST extends its streak to five consecutive wins vs. La. and have an 8-0 record when playing at home vs. the Ragin' Cajuns. The Bobcats also bring the all-time series record to 18-1.
 
Senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey turned in a season-high 21 kills on 48 swings and four errors (.354) She also had a match-high two aces, as did sophomore defensive specialist Kayla Granado, and had one block. Granado also finished with 10 digs. Sophomore outside Janell Fitzgerald recorded a season-high as well, landing 15 kills with a .270 attack percentage and led the team with three blocks. Freshman outside hitter Courtney Heiser matched a season-best 13 kills to round out the Bobcat top hitters. Sophomore setter Emily DeWalt logged her fifth double-double of the season (26th in her career) as she tied her season-best 47 assists and set a new career-high 25 digs in the win. DeWalt also had three kills and two blocks in the match. Sophomore middle blocker Jillian Slaughter paced the team with three blocks in addition to her five kills, and junior libero Brooke Johnson and senior DS Rylie Fuentes did work on the back row with 19 and 17 digs, respectively, both career-highs wearing the Maroon and Gold.
 
Louisiana was led by junior outside hitter Hali Wisnoskie's 12 kills and nearly had a double-double with nine digs. She also finished with a pair of blocks. Senior middle Dree'Ana Abram continued her efficient play with 10 kills behind a match-high .381 hitting percentage and led the team with two aces while matching sophomore middle Tia Jade Smith for a game-high three blocks. Two Ragin' Cajun players finished with 20 or more digs, including junior libero Hannah Ramirez (23) and sophomore outside Kelsey Bennett (22). Bennett filled the stat sheet well with nine kills, two blocks, and one ace.
 
Set 1
Both teams went back-and-forth throughout the set that saw 10 ties and four lead changes. With the score at 8-7 in favor of Louisiana, Texas State scored three unanswered points for an 11-8 advantage and led 15-12 at the first media timeout. Out of the timeout, however, Louisiana scored five of the next seven points to tie the set at 17 and force a Bobcat timeout. Texas State then responded with a 4-2 run for a 23-19 edge and although Louisiana put together a late run, the Bobcats overcame with a 25-23 win.
 
Set 2
The second stanza was just as tight, although it only featured two lead changes, both of which happened prior to the media timeout with Louisiana leading 15-12. The Ragin' Cajuns built their largest margin of the entire match to five on two separate occasions before the Bobcats trimmed the deficit 20-18 to force a timeout by the visiting club. That would be the closest the Cats would get in the set as La. escaped with a 25-21 victory to tie the match.
 
Set 3
Texas State flipped the switch and took a 17-9 advantage early, highlighted by a 5-1 run before the Ragin' Cajuns called for a break. The run continued on the other side of the timeout as the Bobcats' margin ballooned 21-11 and the home team regained the match lead with a 25-13 win.
 
Set 4
The Ragin' Cajuns had a 7-5 lead before the Bobcats erupted with a 5-1 run followed by a 6-2 run after a timeout to lead 16-10. Texas State kept it rolling and brushed off a small burst by Louisiana and won the set 25-20.
 
The Bobcats will wrap-up the conference-opening weekend with a noon match Sept. 29 vs. ULM at Strahan Arena.
 
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