STATESBORO, Ga. — Friday night, it was all Texas State as the Bobcats beat Georgia Southern in three sets and didn't allow the Eagles to score more than 17 points in any of the match's sets to run its winning streak over the host program to eight matches in a row.
Coming off two wins over East Division opponents last weekend, Texas State (13-11, 9-2) wasted little time in picking up where it left off seven days ago as the Bobcats raced out to a 10-3 lead as
Tessa Marshall,
Caitlan Buettner and
Janell Fitzgerald all recorded at least one kill during the run.
Kayla Tello added a service ace, too, during the later stages.
After Georgia Southern got to within five points at 15-10, Buettner, Fitzgerald and the Bobcat defense combined to balloon Texas State's advantage back to 21-13. An Eagle service error set the stage for Buettner's set point kill off an
Emily DeWalt assist.
Much like the first set, Texas State raced out to a 9-3 lead out of the gates to begin the second set. Georgia Southern battled back to make it 10-8, but the Bobcats outscored the Eagles 15-8 the rest of the way, before a
Kayla Granado service ace ended the set.
Georgia Southern, in the third set, used both of its timeouts within the set's first 17 points after Texas State took a commanding 15-2 lead. The Eagles didn't reach the double-digit mark until a service error by the Bobcats while leading 21-9.
Tyeranee Scott ended the match by placing an attack from DeWalt on the court between Eagle defenders.
FROM HEAD COACH SEAN HUIET
"That's a great win. Georgia Southern is a well-coached team that has been playing good volleyball this season. To come to their place and do what we did tonight was impressive. I thought Caitlan (Buettner) and Janell (Fitzgerald) played really well. Janell led us, once again, both offensively and defensively, which is big time. I also thought we served really aggressively and kept them out of system. Overall, it was a great team win and now we get some rest and get ready for a very feisty Georgia State team."
STAT LEADERS
SCORES BY SET
- 1st | Texas State 25, Georgia Southern 17
- 2nd | Texas State 25, Georgia Southern 16
- 3rd | Texas State 25, Georgia Southern 13
MATCH NOTES
- For the sixth time this season, Janell Fitzgerald was credited with a double-double as the senior outside hitter finished Friday night's match with 12 kills and 12 digs. Her 12 digs were tied for the second most in a single conference match this season by Fitzgerald after she had 15 at Arkansas State on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.
- The hour-and-12-minute match Friday night was the second-shortest match — time wise — against a Sun Belt opponent this season for Texas State. On Friday, Oct. 1, the Bobcats put away ULM in three sets in an hour and five minutes. Overall, Friday night's match against the Eagles was tied for the second-shortest match — time wise — on the season after Texas State's match against Kentucky to open the season lasted an hour and 12 minutes, too.
- Since dropping a four-set match against Louisiana on Saturday, Oct. 2, Texas State has gone on to win 21 of its last 22 sets played against Sun Belt Conference opponents. The lone exception was the third set against App State (24-26) on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.
UP NEXT
- Texas State will continue its two-match swing through the state of Georgia when the Bobcats travel to Atlanta to play Georgia State on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 5:30 p.m. CT.
- 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.
