ATLANTA, Ga. — At this point of the volleyball season, programs will always bring their best to try to knock off a conference division leader. And Saturday night was no different as Texas State had to reach another level to knock off Georgia State in three sets.
For the first time since the second set (27-25) of its three-set win over Little Rock on Friday, Oct. 15, Texas State and its opponent both went to extra points in a set as Georgia State pushed the Bobcats right out of the gate. Up until
Jada Gardner pushed the Bobcats ahead 26-25, then an attack error from Clara Bednarek ended the set, there were 14 different lead changes in the first set.
Georgia State continued to apply pressure to the West Division leaders as the Panthers ran out to a 7-3 lead in the second set. However, Texas State responded with a 7-2 run to take a 13-11 lead. Two Georgia State points proceeded a 3-0 Bobcat run. The Panthers cut their deficit to one at 17-16, but TXST scored eight of the next 12 points to seal the set win.
Once Texas State fully reached that 'next level,' the Bobcats showed why they've won their last eight straight conference matches as TXST turned a 2-2 tie into a 7-3 lead. The Panthers battled back to get within two at 14-12, before the Bobcats went on an 11-3 scoring run, including the last seven straight, and close out the night.
FROM HEAD COACH SEAN HUIET
"(Georgia State's) record doesn't show what kind of team they are. (Georgia State head coach) Sally (Polhamus) and her staff have them playing really well. They have lost seven of their conference matches in five (sets). We were the first team to get them in three. Kudos to our kids for staying focused and grinding it out. They made us play clean volleyball and have to go to another level. I'm so glad we responded the way we did."
STAT LEADERS
SCORES BY SET
- 1st | Texas State 27, Georgia State 25
- 2nd | Texas State 25, Georgia State 20
- 3rd | Texas State 25, Georgia State 15
MATCH NOTES
- For the seventh time this season, Emily DeWalt was credited with 40-or-more assists in a single match. Saturday night, the senior setter recorded 42 assists in the Bobcats' three-set win over Georgia State. It's the third-most assists in a three-set match for DeWalt this season after having 45 and 44 at Little Rock and Arkansas State, respectively, on Oct. 15 and 16, 2021.
- With an 11-kill performance Saturday night, Caitlan Buettner surpassed 100 kills in Sun Belt Conference action this season. Buettner joins Jada Gardner (142) and Janell Fitzgerald (139) as Bobcats who have surpassed the mark so far this season.
- Janell Fitzgerald has turned into a double-double machine for head coach Sean Huiet. Having finished with 12 kills and 13 digs Saturday night, the Bobcat senior outside hitter has been credited with double-doubles in back-to-back matches and eight in 10 games against conference opponents.
- With another three-set win on the season, Texas State has now won 24 of its last 25 sets played against Sun Belt Conference foes dating back to a four-set loss against Louisiana on Saturday, Oct. 2. The lone exception was the third set against App State (24-26) on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.
UP NEXT
- Texas State (14-11, 10-2) will now return home to San Marcos for the final two home matches of the 2021 fall regular season. The Bobcats will play Little Rock at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, before closing out its home slate against Arkansas State at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7.
- 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.
