NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Texas State (2-0) records its first sweep of the 2020 season after taking care of Stephen F. Austin (1-1) in straight sets (25-20, 25-20, 25-14) Friday night at the Shelton Gym. The Bobcats swept the opening weekend after defeating Central Arkansas 3-2 Friday morning.
 
"This is a big win for us early in the season," said Huiet. "SFA is a tournament team year after year, so to be able to beat them 3-0 on their home court was impressive. You will hear me say this a lot but this group is special. They do not get knocked off their rocker very easily and we as a coaching staff are very excited for the 2-0 start."
 
Junior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald led the Bobcats with a .391 hitting percentage after logging 14 kills on 23 swings. Fitzgerald also tallied two blocks, including one solo to go along with four digs. Sophomore outside Caitlan Buettner followed with 12 kills (.269) and matched sophomore DS Michelle Foster for a match-high two aces. Buettner also had six digs and a block. Junior setter Emily DeWalt was a dig shy of a double-double after recording 29 assists and a match-high nine digs. Sophomore middle blocker Tessa Marshall paced the team with four blocks, including a career-high two solo blocks.
 
For the Ladyjacks, sophomore outsides Ariana Pagan and Payton Cerny led the team with five kills apiece. Arkansas State transfer and sophomore setter Malgorzata Andersohn directed the offense with 12 assists and freshman setter Maddy Bourque handed out 11 assists. They both had one ace. Senior middle blocker Taya Mitchell led the team with three blocks, but the 2019 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year was held to a .000 hitting percentage behind three kills on 10 swings with three errors. Senior DS Madelynn Miller led the team with nine digs.
 
The Bobcats dominated in every facet of the game as they outperformed SFA in hitting percentage (.270-.095), kills (45-23), assists (41-23), aces (6-2), blocks (7-4) and digs (41-23).
 
Texas State improves to 53-26-1 in the all-time series with SFA and increases its winning streak to 11.
 
Set 1
The opening set had nine ties, but just two lead changes as the Bobcats won the first stanza, 25-20. TXST was ahead 19-16 thanks to a 3-0 run that forced SFA to call for time, and moments later, used another 3-0 run to take a 23-18 lead, making SFA burn its final timeout. The Ladyjacks scored two points out of the break, but DeWalt registered her second kill of the set and Fitzgerald ended the frame with a kill. Buettner led the Bobcats with five kills and Fitzgerald followed with three.
 
Set 2
SFA scored the first two points, but TXST grabbed its first lead at 5-4 behind a 4-1 scoring burst and built a 10-7 lead before the home team called a timeout. The Ladyjacks committed two attacking errors out of the timeout and the Bobcats eventually built a 22-15 lead to bring on another SFA timeout. The Bobcats largest lead of the set was 23-15 and although SFA was building on a 5-1 run, DeWalt's sneaky kill ended the set 25-20 for a Bobcat 2-0 match lead. The maroon and gold hit .222 in the set, while SFA hit .000. Fitzgerald went off for eight kills on 11 swings and just two errors for a .545 clip.
 
Set 3
The Ladyjacks scored first again, but the Bobcats answered by taking the lead at 3-2 and used a 4-0 run to take an 8-4 lead. They later used a 4-1 run to go ahead 16-10, forcing SFA to use a timeout. Texas State lead grew as large as 10 points and ended the set on a 5-1 run to win the set 25-14. Buettner and senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott had four kills each.
 
UP NEXT
Texas State will have its season home opener next weekend when they face UTEP at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 and again at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 in Strahan Arena. Friday's match will be streamed on ESPN+
 
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