SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team will host No. 2 Texas for the first time since 2005 at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16 at Strahan Arena in San Marcos.  

The Bobcats (27-6, 15-1 Sun Belt) enter the week on a three-match losing streak, including a recent 3-0 setback at No. 2 Texas a week ago. The Bobcats are 2-3 against the Big 12, and 3-4 overall this spring. For the entire 2020-21 season, TXST is hitting .246, while holding its opponent to a .167 hitting percentage. The maroon and gold average 13.79 kills, 12.87 assists 2.11 blocks, and 16.27 digs per set. The team has also collected 138 aces (1.19/set) this season. 

Junior setter and three-time Sun Belt Conference Setter of the Year Emily DeWalt directs the offense with 10.88 assists per set and has a total of 1,251 helpers this season. DeWalt ranks No. 5 in the program's record book with 3,717 career assists, and averages 3.04 digs per set, and has a total of 91 kills (.305), 53 blocks (four solos), and 16 aces.

Junior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald leads the Bobcats with 3.57 kills per set (.326) and has 411 total kills this season. She is one kill shy of becoming the 17th player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills, and 74 kills away from breaking into the top five of the program's record book for the most kills in a single season. Fitzgerald has 88 total blocks (0.77 per set), including 19 solo blocks.

Senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott paces TXST with 99 total blocks (0.93 per set) and has 21 solo blocks on the year. Scott also leads the team with a .358 hitting percentage behind 2.61 kills per set and contributes 37 digs and two aces to her season statistics. 

SCOUTING TEXAS
The Longhorns (19-0, 14-0 Big 12) are still undefeated this season and have swept their opponent in five of their last six matches. UT is 6-0 on the road this season and will play in its first road match this spring at Strahan Arena. 

Junior outside hitter Logan Eggleston leads the team with 4.58 kills per set and is hitting .326 this season, although she was held to eight kills and a .167 hitting percentage in the first match against the Bobcats this spring. Eggleston also leads the team with 33 aces. Sophomore outside hitter Skylar Fields follows with 3.08 kills per set (.309) and logged a match-high 13 kills against TXST on March 8. Junior middle blocker Brionne Butler leads the defense with 1.49 blocks per set (94 total) and adds 2.25 kills per set. Junior setter Jhenna Gabriel directs all Longhorn traffic with 11.14 assists per set, and graduate libero Morgan O'Brian leads with 3.43 digs per set.

SERIES HISTORY
Texas leads the all-time series against Texas State 48-20-2, including the win earlier this season. UT last played in San Marcos on Nov. 1, 2005, when they defeated TXST in straight sets. 

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