JONESBORO, Ark. – No. 13 Texas State (17-1, 12-0 Sun Belt) tallied its sixth sweep in the last seven matches and its fourth consecutive sweep this season after taking care of Arkansas State (8-6, 8-6 Sun Belt) in straight sets (25-20, 25-13, 25-20) on Friday morning at the First National Bank Arena.
 
The Bobcats had a good offensive match against arguably the best defensive team in the Sun Belt Conference this season. Texas State hit .294 in the match and hit a match best .565 in the second set registering 14 kills on 23 swings and just one error. The team also had five aces, marking the ninth time this year the Bobcats have turned in five or more aces in a single match. The Maroon and Gold outblocked the league leaders in blocks, 9-6, and held the Red Wolves to a .096 hitting percentage.
 
"We did a great job of seeing what Arkansas State wanted to do and then adjusting," said head coach Sean Huiet. "Today, they [A-State] stayed with our middles and that opened things up for Lauren [Teske] and Janell [Fitzgerald] to have the day they had. Now it is time to rest and recover because Arkansas State is a great team that has good game plans and execute them. We know they will come out firing tonight."
 
Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Teske led the Bobcats with 15 kills and recorded a season-high .406 hitting percentage (15-2-32). Teske led the Bobcats in kills for the fourth time this year and finished the match with eight digs, three blocks (one solo), and an assist. Junior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald followed with 10 kills behind a .556 hitting percentage (10-2-18). Fitzgerald also had three blocks, including two solo blocks. Junior setter Emily DeWalt logged double-double No. 12 this season with 30 assists and a match-high 16 digs. DeWalt also had three kills in the match. Senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott led all players with five total blocks (three solos) and sophomore defensive specialist Michelle Foster had a new career-high three aces in the match.
 
Arkansas State was led by senior outside hitter Madison Brown's match-high 16 kills (.368) and was just two of seven attackers who had a hitting percentage over .000. Junior setter Lauren Musante had 24 assists, five digs, two blocks and an ace, junior libero Tatum Ticknor led the team with 16 digs and sophomore middle blocker Brianna Hollingshed led the way with three blocks, although held in check offensively with just one kill on nine attempts.
 
Texas State snaps a two-match losing streak in Jonesboro and take an 11-10 all-time series lead over Arkansas State.
 
Set 1
Arkansas State scored the first two points of the match and grew its lead to 12-8 before Texas State scored six unanswered points to take a 14-12 lead to force an A-State timeout. The set remained tight with the home team tying the score at 16, but the Bobcats put together another 4-0 run to keep a 20-16 advantage and the Red Wolves used its final timeout of the set. The Bobcats scored the next three points out of the break and although the Red Wolves had a 3-0 push, TXST won the set, 25-20. Teske led the team with seven kills in the set and took over late by scoring six consecutive points behind five kills and a solo block. Fitzgerald also had six kills in the set.    
 
Set 2
The Bobcats kept the momentum going from the first set and built a 9-3 lead to open the second frame. The visiting went into the media timeout with a 15-9 margin and scored seven straight points after the timeout to highlight an 8-0 run, making the count 22-9 which forced a Red Wolves' timeout. The Bobcats won the set 25-13 and through two sets, Teske was hitting .550 (12-1-20) and Fitzgerald had a .533 clip (9-1-15).
 
Set 3
It was a tight set early on before the Bobcats created separation at 11-8 behind a 5-0 scoring run, highlighted by a solo block and kill from Scott. The Red Wolves burned their first timeout down 13-10 and though the home team pulled within one point twice, a Bobcat 8-2 burst made the score 22-15. Texas State walked away with a 25-20 win to secure its fourth consecutive sweep.
 
UP NEXT
Texas State and Arkansas State will have its second match of the day at 6 p.m. at the First National Bank Arena.
 
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