SAN MARCOS, Texas – An in-state match Tuesday evening at Strahan Arena did not fare well for the Texas State volleyball team (1-3) who was shutout by Rice (3-0) 13-25, 10-25, 21-25.
 
The Bobcats have not lost three straight matches since opening the 2018 season and Tuesday marked the first time the Cats fell three consecutive times at home since 2012.
 
The reigning Sun Belt Champions continued their offensive struggles as they hit a season-low -.049 vs. the Owl's .260 and did not record an ace for the first time this year. The Bobcats did tie with the Owls with 37 digs, however, they were beat at the net with one block compared to their opponent's eight.
 
For the third time this season, senior outside Cheyenne Huskey led Texas State in kills (7) and she added one block. Junior outside Kenedi Rutherford registered six kills and sophomore middle Jillian Slaughter and freshman outside hitter Courtney Heiser each had four kills on the night. Sophomore setter Emily DeWalt had a team-best 18 assists and junior defensive specialist Brooke Johnson paced the team with 10 digs.
 
Rice was led by 2019 C-USA Preseason Player of the Year Nicole Lennon who had a .406 attack percentage behind 14 kills on 32 swings and one error. The junior outside hitter also had one ace. Senior Morgan Grace put down six kills on 11 attacks, leading the team with a .545 with no errors to go along with four blocks, and graduate transfer Tabitha Brown matched TXST's Johnson with a match-high 10 digs but also added a match-best three aces. Junior outside Kassidy Muse led all players with five blocks.
 
The all-time series is now 18-18-1 with Rice ending Texas State's three-match winning streak. The Bobcats are now 6-4 vs. the Owls in the last 10 meetings.
 
Set 1
The teams went back-and-forth early in the set, but with the score tied at eight, Texas State gave up four points behind three attacking errors. After a kill by Heiser to get back on track, a service error followed by another attack error forced the Bobcats to call timeout down 14-10. Out of the timeout, Rice scored four of the next six points to make the home team huddle up again and closed the set on a 7-1 run to win the set, 25-13.
 
Set 2
The Bobcats opened the set with a kill from Buettner and after the Owls received a free gift on the service error, Huskey found the floor to put the home team back on top. Rice tied it up again with a kill but returned the favor with a service error, giving Texas State a 3-2 advantage. It was all Rice from there as they went on an 8-1 run to force the Bobcats into their first timeout of the set. The visitors continued to roll and took a 2-0 match lead after the 25-10 frame.
 
Set 3
In what was the most competitive set of the night, the Owls pulled away late, anchored by Lennon's six kills. TXST fought tough in the stanza and scored two unanswered points with match-point on the board, but the 32nd attacking error cut the comeback short at the Bobcats fell 25-21.
  
Texas State will embark on a six-match road trip, staring with the Mizuno Classic hosted by Long Beach State Sept. 5-7 in Long Beach, Calif.
 
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