SAN MARCOS, Texas — Twenty-four hours after a dominating three-set win over ULM, the Texas State volleyball program came up just short in its bid to extend Saturday night's match against Louisiana to a fifth as the Bobcats fell in four sets.
After Louisiana (8-4, 3-1) closed out the first set on a 15-5 run, Texas State (6-11, 2-2) displayed its resiliency as the Bobcats used a 4-0 run midway through the second set to take a 16-15; its first lead since 7-6. Even when the Ragin' Cajuns answered with a 7-1, Texas State scored four of the set's next five points before Louisiana scored back-to-back to end the come-from-behind attempt.
The later stages of the third set were all Texas State as the Bobcats scored 11 of the set's final 15 points to gain momentum.
The fourth set between the two programs was a prototypical basketball game of scoring runs. A 6-0 run from Texas State early was answered by a 7-0 run from Louisiana. The Bobcats turned right around and went on a 5-0 run. The Ragin' Cajuns answered with a 4-0 run, before Texas State scored back-to-back points. The two teams traded the next five points before Louisiana went on another scoring run.
Even when facing match point at 24-21, Texas State reeled off back-to-back points to threaten a fifth set, but a kill from Coco Gillett ended the match.
FROM HEAD COACH SEAN HUIET
"Disappointed. We flat-out got outworked and (Louisiana) wanted it more than us. And that was the outcome. I am very disappointed in our efforts tonight, especially after I thought we got a little bit of our mojo back last night. We are going to keep grinding and figure this group out."
STAT LEADERS
SCORES BY SET
- 1st | Louisiana 25, Texas State 15
- 2nd | Louisiana 25, Texas State 21
- 3rd | Texas State 25, Louisiana 20
- 4th | Louisiana 25, Texas State 23
MATCH NOTES
- With her 30-assist performance Saturday night, Texas State senior setter Emily DeWalt pushed her career assist total to 4,231. DeWalt now sits just 52 assists shy of passing Natalie Spann (1998-01) for fourth on the program's career assist list.
- Texas State senior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald will enter next week's double dip with UTA needing just nine kills to become the 12th student-athlete in program history to be credited with 1,200 career kills.
- With her 9-kill evening against Louisiana, Texas State's Jada Gardner set a new career single-season mark in kills with 169. Gardner arrived in San Marcos following a four-year career at Maryland, where she was credited with 166 kills as a junior to set the bar.
- Fellow Texas State graduate student Brooke Johnson set a single-game career high with her 26 digs Saturday night. Johnson's previous career high was 22 digs at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sept. 16, 2021.
UP NEXT
- Texas State will conclude its three-game homestand when the Bobcats host UTA on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. The two programs will then turn around to play each, again, on Saturday, Oct. 9 in Arlington.
- For the latest information on the team, follow @TexasStateVball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can also be at @TxStateBobcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
