SAN MARCOS, Texas — The 15th-ranked Texas State University volleyball program continued its dominant showing in Sun Belt Conference action with a three-set sweep of Little Rock (25-19, 26-24, 25-14) on Friday morning.
With the win, Texas State (12-1, 7-0) has now won its last nine straight matches dating back to a three-set victory over Houston Baptist on Friday, Sept. 18. Additionally, the Bobcats have taken the last nine straight sets against their competition since trailing 2-0 at then-No. 15 Louisiana on Friday, Oct. 16.
Tied 7-7 in the first set, senior
Kenedi Rutherford recorded the first of her career-high 15 kills to push Texas State ahead and give the Bobcats their third lead within the match's opening minutes. Rutherford's kill, with
Emily DeWalt recording one of her game-high 45 assists, sparked a TXST rally as the team reeled off seven unanswered points to balloon its lead out to 15-7.
The lead was later extended out to 19-12 courtesy of a
Lauren Teske kill. Little Rock (1-9, 1-8) responded with a quick 6-3 run to cut TXST's lead to four at 22-18. However, the combination of a Teske kill and two Trojan error closed out the set for the Bobcats.
In set two, Little Rock ran out to a 7-1 lead, before making it 9-3 moments later. However, Texas State responded with a 12-2 run to turn the tables on the Trojans and take a 15-11 lead on the scoreboard. Moments later, Little Rock got to within two at 19-17 and then eventually 23-23 and 24-24 later in the set. Like set one, two Trojan errors closed out the set with the Bobcats on top.
Just like Little Rock in the second set, Texas State ran out to an early lead as the Bobcats lead 5-1 to open the match's third set after Rutherford,
Daleigh Ellison and
Kayla Granado record back-to-back-to-back kills for the Bobcats. After the Trojans managed to tie the set at 7-7, Texas State responded with a 13-3 run to all but put away the match as the Bobcats lead 20-10 following another kill by Rutherford and a set error by the Trojans. Rutherford put the stamp on the victory by recording back-to-back kills in the closing moments.
Two teams will return to action Friday evening at 6 p.m. for the middle match of a three-game conference series, which will conclude on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.
