WACO, Texas – Texas State completed the regular season on a high note as they upset No. 9 Baylor 3-1 (28-30, 25-15, 26-24, 25-22) Thursday night at the Ferrell Center.
The win marks the program's first over a top 10 team and fifth victory over a nationally-ranked program in the 2020-21 season (one against No. 12 Coastal Carolina Nov. 22, three against No. 15 Louisiana Oct. 16-17).
The Bobcats (30-8, 15-1 Sun Belt) also claim its 30th victory, marking the first 30-plus winning season for Texas State since 1985 (31-11). TXST snapped an 11-match losing streak when playing the Lady Bears (18-6, 13-3 Big 12) in Waco. The Bobcat's last victory as the visiting team came on Sept. 14, 1990. The win also snaps an overall seven-match losing streak against Baylor.
"I am so happy for these kids," said head coach Sean Huiet. "They have been battling and working their butts off since August. We had a stretch that made us have to dig deeper and it challenged us. I cannot say enough about how this group responded. To get win No. 30 on the road against the No. 9 team in the country feels really good. What a great team win."
Texas State held Baylor to a .127 hitting percentage as the home team committed 33 attacking errors. The Bobcats registered a .200 hitting percentage, and both teams totaled 54 kills and nine blocks in the match. The Bobcats held the advantage in assists (49-46), but the Lady Bears had the edge in aces (3-1) and digs (74-71).
Junior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald turned in her first career double-double with 15 kills (.290) and 10 digs. She also added four total blocks. Sophomore outside hitters Caitlan Buettner and Courtney Heiser each chipped in 12 kills. Buettner added six digs, and two blocks, while Heiser dug nine balls to go along with her new season-high in kills. Junior setter Emily DeWalt recorded double-double No. 22 this season with 46 assists and 15 digs, and junior middle blocker Jillian Slaughter had a match-high seven blocks to go with her seven kills (.353). Junior libero Kayla Granado also reached double figures as she led all players with 22 digs.
Senior outside hitter Yossiana Pressley had a match-high 19 kills but held to a .127 attacking percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Harrison followed with 13 kills, five digs, three blocks, and one ace. Senior setter Hanna Sedwick finished with 23 assists, five kills, and four digs, and junior setter Callie Williams had 16 helpers, nine digs, and an ace. Junior libero Shanel Bramschreiber led the defense with 20 digs, and Campbell Bowden added 14 digs in the loss.
Set 1
Both teams traded points to five, but the Bobcats took an 8-5 lead behind three unanswered points and led 11-6 before the Lady Bears used their first timeout of the match. TXST was the first to 15 and stretched its lead to 17-11, forcing BU to use its final timeout of the set. Although the Bobcats possessed its largest lead of the set at 18-11, Baylor rattled off four straight points to open an overall 14-7 run to tie the set at 25. After exchanging points to 28, Baylor escaped behind consecutive errors to win the set 30-28.
Set 2
The Bobcats came out hot and scored the first five points to pressure the Lady Bears into a timeout, and moments later, a 3-0 run gave the visiting team a 12-4 lead, forcing Baylor's final timeout. Baylor responded with a 7-3 run, but the Bobcats closed the frame strong, scoring 10 of the final 14 points for a 25-15 win.
Set 3
The Lady Bears scored first, but it was a tight set that saw the Bobcats lead 15-13 at the media timeout. Baylor took a 17-18 advantage before the Bobcats went on a 6-2 run to make the Lady Bears call timeout with the score at 23-20. BU scored a quick three points out of the timeout, and after splitting two more points, Baylor committed consecutive errors to propel Texas State to a 26-24 victory.
Set 4
Baylor opened the set scoring the first three points and led 6-2 before a 6-0 run gave Texas State an 8-6 advantage. The Bobcats held on to the lead throughout most of the set, but the Lady Bears strung together a run that gave them a 22-21 edge late. Fitzgerald found the floor for kill No. 14 to tie the set at 22, which sparked a 4-0 run to win the set 25-22.
UP NEXT
Texas State will take this momentum into the NCAA Tournament scheduled for April 14-24 in Omaha, Neb. The NCAA Division I Volleyball Selection Show will be on Sunday, April 4 at 3 p.m. and will be aired on ESPNU.
Stay updated on everything Texas State volleyball by following the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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