LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Texas State volleyball team got back in the win column after a come-from-behind triumph vs. Long Beach State in five sets (25-17, 18-25, 19-25, 25-20, 17-15) to open the Mizuno Classic Thursday night at Walter Pyramid.
 
"I think the key was our energy and our belief tonight. These kids were hungry," said head coach Karen Chisum. "They needed it, they wanted it and they came together as a team. Many stepped up like Kenedi [Rutherford] and I thought Cheyenne [Huskey] and Emily [DeWalt] played pretty consistently tonight. I am just so proud of them all and the overall team effort we had tonight."
 
The Bobcats (2-3) put to rest a three-match losing streak by defeating the Sharks (2-2) for the first time in program history (1-2 all-time). The TXST offense had a better performance although they were still outhit .244-.215 and had three fewer kills than LBSU (60-57). The Bobcats did register more digs than the Sharks (56-52) and had six aces to The Beach's four. Both teams logged season-highs in service errors and The Beach had the advantage in blocks, 9-3.     
 
Senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey turned in her eighth career double-double and first this season with 15 kills and a season-high 16 digs. Huskey also had a season-best four aces. Junior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott and sophomore outside hitter Kenedi Rutherford each had 11 kills, a season-best for both, and two digs. Scott had two blocks which led the team. Sophomore Emily DeWalt secured another double-double with 47 assists and 10 digs, and also added an ace. Senior libero Micah Dinwiddie recorded a season-high 19 digs.
 
Long Beach State had three players who had double figures in kills, including sophomore outside Allison Martinez who had a match-high 16 kills. Martinez also had three digs, one ace and one assist. Sophomore outside hitter Kashauna Wiliams had 14 kills and three blocks, and senior middle blocker YiZhi Xue logged 11 kills and three blocks. Freshman setter Tia Chavira had 42 assists to lead The Beach and senior libero Hailey Harward led the team with 25 digs.
 
Set 1
Texas State used a 4-1 run to create space and force a Long Beach State timeout with the visitors leading 15-11. It did not help much, however, as the Bobcats poured on another 5-1 burst, giving the team a 20-12 lead and creating another timeout for LBSU. Although The Beach made a late push in the set, the Bobcats took the opening stanza 25-17 capped off with back-to-back aces from Huskey.
 
Set 2
The offense struggled in the second as they hit .029 after a .323 first set. Long Beach State grabbed the momentum early by taking a 12-9 lead and though the Bobcats trimmed the opponent's margin 16-14, the Sharks reeled off four unanswered points for a 20-14 advantage, making TXST call its second timeout of the frame. The home team went on to even the match one set apiece after a 25-18 victory.
 
Set 3
Texas State never held a lead in the third set as Long Beach scored five of the first seven points. The Bobcats cut the deficit to as little as two but was never able to get over the hump. A 4-2 run for the Sharks gave them a 25-20 set win and 2-1 match lead.
 
Set 4
The fourth set featured 12 ties and five lead changes. Down 18-16, the Bobcats went on a 9-2 run, including a 5-0 margin to force a fifth set. Rutherford had a big set with five kills and Huskey scored two of the final three points with a pair of aces. The combo scored five of the final six Bobcat points.
 
Set 5
An intense back-and-forth set with nine ties and one lead change resulted in a thrilling 17-15 victory for the Bobcats. Tied at 12, sophomore middle Jillian Slaughter found the floor to give TXST its first and final lead of the frame. Long Beach would tie the set three more times, but Huskey took over late with a kill for the 16-15 point and joined Scott for the block to ice the game.
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Next up for Texas State at the Mizuno Classic is a clash with UCLA who picked up its first win of the season by sweeping Georgia. The Bobcats will challenge the Bruins at 7 p.m. CT Friday night.
 
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