Box Score FOLEY, Ala. – No. 15 Texas State (22-2) downed the No. 4 seed in the East Division, South Alabama (8-14) in straight sets (25-13, 25-20, 25-18) on Friday afternoon at the Foley Event Center. The Bobcats have reached the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the eighth consecutive year and has now won three consecutive matches in head-to-head meetings against the Jaguars.
 
The Bobcats controlled their second match of the tournament from the beginning and led in hitting percentage (.279-.099), kills (43-29), digs (43-37), and blocks (8-4). The Jaguars did hold the edge with five aces to TXST's three, but failed to have one player register a .150 hitting percentage.
 
"That felt good tonight," said head coach Sean Huiet. "I thought we got in a rhythm early and stayed steady throughout the match. Emily [DeWalt] and Janell [Fitzgerald] played at a high level and we are going to need that for the rest of the weekend if we want to win this thing. I am proud of our kids today."
 
Junior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald recorded a new season-high .591 hitting percentage with a match-high 14 kills on 22 attacks and one error. Fitzgerald also had two blocks. Junior outside hitter Kenedi Rutherford had seven kills and a season high two blocks, and sophomore outside Lauren Teske also had seven kills to go along with six digs. Junior setter Emily DeWalt filled the stat sheet with 33 assists, seven digs, four kills, two blocks, and an ace. Both senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott and junior middle blocker Jillian Slaughter paced the team with four blocks and finished with six and five kills, respectively. Junior libero Kayla Granado led the team with 11 digs, and senior setter Brooke Johnson led the club with two aces.
 
Senior outside hitter Hannah Harris led the Jaguars with seven kills and three aces in the loss. Senior middle blocker Hannah Johnson led the team with three blocks and junior libero Rachel Hickey had a match-high 12 digs in the match.
 
Set 1
Texas State dominated the opening set vs. South Alabama. After the Jaguars scored the first two points, the Bobcats scored five unanswered and later put together a 6-0 run to take an 18-10 lead. The Bobcats kept their foot on the gas and scored the final four points to win the set 25-13.
 
Set 2
South Alabama fought tough at the beginning of the set, but the Bobcats began to make it a block party and used a 5-1 run to build a 10-7 lead before the Jaguars signaled for time. The momentum did not stop for the Bobcats, however, as they went on to score six of the next eight points to force the Jags second timeout as they trailed 16-9. Texas State dominated from then on, and although South Alabama pulled within four points at 23-19, Texas State walked away with a comfortable 25-20 win.
 
Set 3
DeWalt opened the set with an ace and the Bobcats went on to score the next two points and led 5-1 in the frame. The Jaguars pieced together a 4-0 run to tie the set at five, but the Bobcats did not relinquish their lead, rather they extended it 16-10 behind a 5-0 burst. USA tried to get back in the set with a 4-2 run, trailing 18-14, but it was too late as the Bobcats finished strong by scoring three of the final four points to win 25-18.   
 
UP NEXT
Texas State will challenge either the No. 2 seed of the East Division Troy, or the No. 3 seed of the West Division UT Arlington. Those two clubs will play at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20.
 
UT Arlington, who is 1-0 in pull play will advance with either a win or five-set loss to Troy. Troy, who is 0-1 in the pool after falling to Georgia Southern 3-2 on Wednesday, would need to win in three or four sets to advance.
 
The Bobcats are a perfect 12-0 all-time against Troy. This season, Texas State faced UT Arlington four times and won three of them, but the final match between the two clubs went to the Lady Mavericks and spoiled the Bobcats' opportunity of their third consecutive regular-season championship title.
 
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