FOLEY, Ala. – No. 15 Texas State (23-2) dominated on both sides of the net in the 3-1 victory (25-17, 25-13, 22-25, 25-13) over Troy (11-8) in the semifinals on Saturday night at the Foley Event Center. The Bobcats will make their fourth consecutive appearance in the Sun Belt Conference Championship match and improve to 13-0 all-time against the Trojans.
 
The Bobcats recorded a .315 hitting percentage while also turning in a season-high 16 blocks in the win. TXST now has eight matches with a hitting percentage over .300. The Bobcats also finished with 77 digs, marking the sixth time the club had dug 70-plus balls in a match this season and the third time doing so in four sets.  
 
"I cannot say enough about how my staff had our team prepared for what Troy was going to do," said head coach Sean Huiet. "I thought our game plan was great and our kids did a great job executing it. T [Tyeranee Scott] had a huge night and it was great to see her back to her old self. We are happy to be playing for a championship tomorrow and we know Coastal is a great team. We will rest up and be ready to go tomorrow."  
 
Senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott was the Player of the Match and recorded a season-high .615 hitting percentage with a team-high 16 kills on 26 errorless swings. Scott also had eight blocks on the night, tied with junior middle blocker Jillian Slaughter which matched a career-high for San Antonio, Texas native. Junior outside hitter Kenedi Rutherford had 13 kills (.321) with five digs and a pair of assists, while classmate and counterpart Janell Fitzgerald rounded out the top hitters with 12 kills (.370). Fitzgerald also had six blocks. Junior setter Emily DeWalt turned in double-double No. 17 on the year with 46 assists and 10 digs. She also finished with seven digs, four kills, and a pair of aces. Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Teske had a match-high three aces to go along with nine digs, five kills, two blocks, and two assists. Junior libero Kayla Granado led the way with 20 digs, followed by senior setter Brooke Johnson and sophomore defensive specialist Michelle Foster who both had 13 digs.
 
Senior outside hitter Cheyenne Hayes led the Trojans with 15 kills and added seven digs, one block and one ace. Junior middle hitter Caitlin Cooper was behind her with 10 kills (.333) and a pair of blocks. Junior setter Amara Anderson also had a double-double in the match with 37 assists and 12 digs and added three aces, three kills, and one block. Junior libero Lacey Jeffcoat had a match-high 23 digs and sophomore outside hitter Ashley Guenveur had 14 digs.
 
Set 1
Troy grabbed its first lead of the night at 7-5 behind a 6-1 run, but Texas State responded and took the lead thanks to an 8-2 run of its own, highlighted by a 5-0 burst to make the count 13-9. The Maroon and Gold went on another run to extend their lead 16-10, forcing Troy to use its final timeout of the set. The Trojans did pull within four points at 17-13, but the Bobcats scored eight of the final 13 points to win the set 25-17 behind six kills from Rutherford.
 
Set 2
Both teams exchanged points up to six before the Bobcats went on a 3-0 run to take a 9-6 lead, pressuring Troy to call for time to stop the momentum. TXST proceeded to score four of the next seven points and led 17-13 when the Trojans used its final timeout of the frame. The Trojans did not score again as the Bobcats ended the set on an overall 10-0 run led by Scott who finished with seven kills and four blocks in the set.
 
Set 3
Texas State came out hot and scored the first four points of the set, but Troy fought back and took an 8-5 lead behind a 6-0 run. Texas State did not let the set get too far out of reach as they tied the set at 11, but the Trojans kept the pressure on and went into the media timeout with a 15-12 advantage. Out of the media timeout, Fitzgerald went on a personal 5-0 run with four kills and a block to gain a 17-15 lead. Troy never wavered though and with both teams tied at 21, Troy took advantage of a favorable rotation and won the set 25-22.  
 
Set 4
The Bobcats jumped out to an 8-3 lead and was on a 4-0 run when the Trojans signaled for time. Troy had a few runs in them, but the Bobcats continued to pour it on and grew its lead to double-digits as they walked away with a 25-13 win. TXST hit .367 in the set and held Troy to a .053 hitting percentage.
 
UP NEXT
No. 15 Texas State will face No. 12 Coastal Carolina in a rematch of the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship where the Bobcats won in four sets. That was the last loss for the Chanticleers who is currently 18-0 entering the championship match. The Bobcats are 4-3 all-time vs. the Chants, including a 1-2 record in the conference tournament. Both teams make up the last four champions in the Sun Belt Conference with CCU winning the title in 2016-17 and TXST claiming the title in 2018-19.
 
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