LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Texas State volleyball team secured its first sweep of the season by downing SEC opponent Georgia 26-24, 25-19, 25-19 Saturday evening at Walter Pyramid. The Bobcats (3-4) concluded the Mizuno Classic with a 2-1 record, defeating both Georgia and tournament host, Long Beach State.
 
"I am extremely proud," said head coach Karen Chisum. "The Sun Belt just buried the SEC with this win. Our blocking was much improved. Everyone did a great job on that front line and our bench is getting deeper and more experienced. I am pleased with where we are."
 
The Bobcats put together their best performance of the year as they recorded season-highs in hitting percentage (.271) and total blocks (14) and held Georgia (3-3) to an opponent season-low .154 hitting percentage and two blocks. The Bulldogs did accumulate more kills (42-35), assists (41-34) and digs (46-37) than the Bobcats and both teams finished with four aces.  
 
Senior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey turned in a double-double with a team-high 11 kills and 10 digs, while also pacing the team with three aces. Huskey also had two blocks. Sophomore outside Janell Fitzgerald had double-figure kills for the second straight match and registered six blocks. Sophomore setter Emily DeWalt filed the box score with 29 assists, seven digs, four blocks, two kills, and one ace, and senior libero Micah Dinwiddie matched Huskey's 10 digs. Other key contributors for the Maroon and Gold was sophomore middle Jillian Slaughter who had a match-high seven blocks and added two kills and two digs, and junior middle Tyeranee Scott who had six blocks and five kills in the win.
     
Junior middle blocker Kianna Young led the Dawgs with 12 kills on 21 attacks and three errors for a .429 hitting percentage and also tallied one ace. Both sophomores outside hitter Kayla Rivera and middle blocker Sage Naves each had six kills and senior setter Meghan Donovan flirted with a double-double with 37 assists, nine digs, and had one kill. Junior libero Kendall Glover had a match-high 13 digs and freshman Kaci Evans matched Huskey's three service aces.
 
Set 1
Texas State built a 16-10 lead that was highlighted by a 5-0 stretch to force a pair of Georgia timeouts. The Maroon and Gold led by as many as seven points, but the Dawgs fought back and ultimately tied the match at 24 before an attacking error and big block by Fitzgerald and Slaughter ended the set 26-24, Bobcats.
 
Set 2
Texas State had a pair of aces and Georgia attacking errors to help gain an early 9-3 advantage, and kept the momentum rolling to a 19-14 lead late in the frame. Although the Dawgs scored five of the next eight points, The Bobcats scored the final three points capped off by a kill by Huskey for the 25-19 victory.
 
Set 3
The third set was a tight one that saw five ties but just two lead changes. When TXST led the set 14-11, Georgia reeled off four points to take the lead and force a Bobcat timeout. After the break the Bobcats scored four of the next six to regain the lead 18-17 and ended the set with a 9-2 run to sweep the Dawgs 25-19.
 
Texas State continues its six-match road trip Sept. 12-13 when they travel to compete in the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station. The Bobcats will have a 6 p.m. match vs. Texas A&M Sept. 12 and will play two matches on Sept. 13 vs. UT-Rio Grande Valley (12:30 p.m.) and Northwestern State (5 p.m.).
 
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