SAN MARCOS, Texas – For the second time this weekend, Texas State (8-1, 3-0 Sun Belt) recorded a new season-high in hitting percentage (.380) as they tormented the ULM (1-5, 0-3 Sun Belt) defense in what was the third sweep of the weekend (25-14, 25-13, 25-12) for the Bobcats Saturday afternoon at Strahan Arena.
 
In addition to hitting a new season-high, the Bobcats held ULM under a .100 hitting percentage for the second consecutive match and has held their opponent below .100 for the fourth time this season. ULM recorded an opponent season-low 20 kills against TXST and the home team tallied seven blocks and 53 digs in the three-set victory. Texas State also had six aces, marking the fifth consecutive match the team has had five or more aces in a single match.
 
"All 18 student-athletes are on this stat sheet. That is something that we have preaching all season with everything we are battling and going through," said head coach Sean Huiet. "We are going to need everyone to play and help and I believe every single kid contributed to today's match in some way. That is a testament to this team and my staff and the training that we have been doing. Our main goal was to keep getting better every match and as you can see in today's scores, we have gotten better over the weekend."
 
Nine different Bobcats registered a kill in the match and five of them turned in five or more kills. Junior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald led the way with eight kills, while senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott hit a season-high .583 behind seven kills on 12 errorless attacks. Scott also had three blocks, including one solo. Sophomore middle Tessa Marshall had seven kills as well on nine swings with no errors (.778) and added three blocks, and junior outside Kenedi Rutherford turned in a season-high seven kills in the win. Sophomore OH Lauren Teske rounded out the top hitters with six kills and had four digs and a block. Junior setter Emily DeWalt picked up a double-double with 32 assists and a season-high 16 digs to go along with three blocks (season-high), three kills, and one ace. Junior libero Kayla Granado had 11 digs in the match and senior setter Brooke Johnson and sophomore defensive specialist Michelle Foster both led the Bobcats with two aces each.
 
Senior outside hitter Haley Coulter led ULM with five kills and had nine digs. Karson Davis led the offense with 12 assists and libero Madeline Hogan led the team with 10 digs.
 
Texas State is now 49-2 all-time against ULM and extends its winning streak to 18. The Bobcats are also 27-0 when playing the Warhawks in San Marcos.
 
Set 1
ULM jumped out to a 5-2 lead, but Texas State took over with a 9-0 run, forcing the visitors to burn both of their timeouts down 11-5. The Bobcats grew their lead to as many as 12 (20-8) behind five unanswered points and the home team won the frame 25-14. Teske led the team with four kills, followed by three from Scott and DeWalt.
 
Set 2
The Bobcats' momentum from the first set rolled into the second as they built an 11-5 advantage to force a Warhawk timeout. Texas State kept its foot on the gas however, and used an 8-0 run to hold a 22-8 lead and ultimately won the set 25-13. Marshall led the Bobcats with five kills on seven swings with no errors (.714) and Scott hit .571 with four kills on seven attempts and no errors. Scott also had two blocks.
 
Set 3
After a 6-0 run puts the Bobcats ahead 7-1, the team goes on another 5-0 burst to increase their lead 12-2. Texas State led by as many as 13 points at 21-8 and won the set 25-12. Although Fitzgerald led the team with five kills, it was the reserves that made a splash, including Rutherford's four kills, and freshman middle blocker Megan Woods who totaled two kills, an ace, and a block in her first collegiate appearance.
 
UP NEXT
Texas State is scheduled to conclude its nine-match homestand with a pair of matches vs. UT Arlington on Oct. 2-3 at Strahan Arena.
 
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