SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State (5-1) opens its Sun Belt Conference schedule with three matches vs. ULM (1-2) on Sept. 25-26 at Strahan Arena. Friday will be a double-header with the first match beginning at 11 a.m., and the night cap starting at 6 p.m. The weekend series will conclude with a 1 p.m. match on Saturday, Sept. 26.
 
Friday's 6 p.m. match along with Saturday's match will be streamed on ESPN+. Live stats will be provided for all three matches this weekend.
 
The Bobcats' 5-1 record is their best start since being 6-0 in 2013, the year Texas State claimed its first Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship. Texas State ended non-conference play with by sweeping the two-match series vs. Houston Baptist last weekend. As a unit, the Bobcats enter the weekend leading the nation in team assists (300), team kills (327), team attacks (866), and team blocks (50.5). In addition to those stats, the Maroon and Gold lead the league in team digs (372). The Bobcats are looking to improve their .237 hitting percentage (No. 3 in Sun Belt) but does hold opponents to a .170 clip thanks to a 2.10 blocks per set (No. 2 in the Sun Belt).
 
Junior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald leads the Bobcats with 3.33 kills per set (80 total kills) and has a .341 hitting percentage. She also paces the team with 18 total blocks. Sophomore outside Caitlan Buettner follows with 3.04 kills per set (73 total kills) and also adds 2.21 digs per set. She also has eight total blocks and three aces. Junior setter and this week's Sun Belt Conference Setter of the Week Emily DeWalt directs the offense with 10.38 assists per set and has registered 2.88 digs per set, 26 kills, and four aces. DeWalt has tallied four consecutive double-doubles this season. Sophomore Lauren Teske, who is this week's Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week, averages 2.44 kills per set and has a team-high five aces to go along with 2.56 digs per set.TXST has a solid middle attack beginning with senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott who has 2.21 kills on average (53 total kills) and 15 total blocks. Junior middle Jillian Slaughter has 32 kills this year and matches Scott's 15 total blocks. Both Scott and Slaughter have a team-best five solo blocks. Sophomore middle Tessa Marshall leads the team with 0.80 blocks per set (12 total blocks), and junior libero Kayla Granado anchors the defense with 3.83 digs per set (92 total digs).
 
SCOUTING ULM
ULM opened the season with a 3-1 victory against Lamar before being swept by both Stephen F. Austin and Houston Baptist Sept. 11-12. The team was scheduled to play three matches last week at South Alabama, but the weekend was canceled. In the small sample size, the Warhawks have a .124 hitting percentage while opponents hit .197 on the year. ULM does lead the Sun Belt with 20.40 digs per set.
 
Senior outside hitter Haley Coulter leads the team with 3.30 kills per set (No. 4 in the Sun Belt), 5.40 digs per set (No. 2 in the Sun Belt), five total blocks and two aces. Junior setter McKinley Thiede is the other standout player for ULM as she paces the team with 5.90 digs per set and also has two aces this season.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Texas State leads the all-time series record vs. ULM with an impressive 46-2 record. The Bobcats are a perfect 24-0 when playing the Warhawks in San Marcos and are currently on a 15-match winning streak highlighted by seven consecutive sweeps.
 
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