Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 DAYTON, Ohio — The Texas State University volleyball program opened its 2021 schedule on the wrong side of two final scores as the Bobcats fell the No. 3 Kentucky, 3-0, before being upended by Cincinnati, 3-1, in the night cap of the Dayton Invitational.
Texas State (0-2) fell behind to Kentucky early in the first set, 6-1, before battling back to ultimately get to within one point of the Wildcats at 16-15. However, UK went on a 9-3 run to close out the first set, 25-18. The Bobcats won the opening point of the second set, before Kentucky went on a 13-0 run. Over the next few minutes of game action, Texas State scored more five points, before Kentucky went on a 6-1 run to end the second set. Just like the second set, Texas State scored the set-opening point, before trading points with Kentucky all the way up to 5-5. The Bobcats were within two points at 15-13, but the Wildcats responded to Texas State's resiliency with a 10-2 run to finish the match.
For the third straight set Friday, Texas State won the opening point against Cincinnati and was the first team to five points. But the Bearcats responded with a 10-3 run to take a 12-8 advantage. The Bobcats clawed back to within one at 16-15, but Cincinnati answered with a 9-5 run to close out the set. The two teams traded the lead 12 different times in the second set, before Texas State scored four of the set's last five points to win its first set of the contest. The Bobcats appeared on the verge of winning the match's third set when leading 24-22, but Cincinnati came out of a timeout to score the next four unanswered points and take a 2-1 match advantage. After the two teams traded points to open the fourth team, Cincinnati took a 2-1 lead and never relinquished the lead throughout the set en route to closing out the match.
FROM HEAD COACH SEAN HUIET
"We definitely got better in the second match, but we didn't take advantage when we have the opportunity. When you are up 24-21 in a set to take the lead in the match, you have to capitalize. We are trying to find some rhythm offensively and get back to playing our Texas State style."
STAT LEADERS
SCORES BY SET
- 1st | Kentucky 25, Texas State 18
- 2nd | Kentucky 25, Texas State 7
- 3rd | Kentucky 25, Texas State 15
- 1st | Cincinnati 25, Texas State 20
- 2nd | Texas State 28, Cincinnati 26
- 3rd | Cincinnati 26, Texas State 24
- 4th | Cincinnati 25, Texas State 20
MATCH NOTES
- 2018 marked the last time the Bobcat volleyball program dropped its season-opening match. That year, Texas State finished the season 27-7, a Sun Belt Conference Championship and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament.
- Jada Gardner, who returned to the Lonestar State as a graduate transfer following a four-year career at Maryland, made her Bobcat debut against No. 3 Kentucky. Coming off the bench, the 6-foot-1 outside hitter recorded three kills and a team-high two blocks against the Wildcats.
- Kentucky, ranked No. 3 to start the 2021 season, was the highest-ranked opponent the Bobcats faced since playing No. 4 Nebraska to close out the 2020 season.
- With its 28-26 second-set win during its four-set match against Cincinnati, Texas State won its first set of the season after falling to No. 3 Kentucky in straight sets and dropping the first set to Cincinnati.
- Against Cincinnati, Emily DeWalt was the lone Bobcat to be credited with a statistic in five different categories as she had 38 assist, 14 digs, three blocks, two aces and two kills in four sets.
UP NEXT
- Texas State wraps up the Dayton Invitational against host Dayton on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 1 p.m.
- 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.
