SAN MARCOS, Texas — Following a three-set match against Texas A&M on Tuesday, Sept. 14 when head coach
Sean Huiet said his team "was putting the pieces together," the Texas State volleyball will look to get back into the win column at the Islanders Classic hosted by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi this week.
Texas State (2-8) will begin its action on Thursday, Sept. 16 against the host school at 6:30 p.m. The Bobcats will then return to action on Friday, Sept. 17 with a pair of matches. TXST will start the day at 10:30 a.m. against UTEP, then conclude its stay in Corpus Christi with a match against Tarleton State at 3:30 p.m.
LOOKING AT THE BOBCATS
Texas State will look for its first true road win of the season after the Bobcats picked up a neutral site win over Rhode Island on Saturday, Sept. 4. TXST picked up its next win six days later with a four-set victory over Alabama inside Strahan Arena at the University Events Center. TXST's last true road win came when it knocked off then-No. 9 Baylor in four sets on Thursday, April 1, 2021.
Jada Gardner enters this week's action needing just nine points to reach the 100-point total on the season. The 6-foot-1, outside hitter has totaled a team-high 80 kills, four service aces and 13 total blocks (1 block solo, 13 block assists) in 34 sets played throughout 10 matches.
Bobcat senior defensive specialist
Kayla Granado has been credited with 135 digs through 10 matches this season. Her dig total ranks her sixth in the Sun Belt Conference and 105th in Division I volleyball.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi puts its 3-5 record on the line when the Islanders meet the Bobcats to open the Islanders Classic on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. Kyndal Payne paces AMCC with 75 kills on 206 total attacks (.189 hitting percentage) in 27 sets played throughout eight matches.
UTEP brings an 8-1 record into its match against the Bobcats. The Miners lone loss of the came against Grand Canyon, which it beat in four sets in a preseason exhibition, in four sets on Friday, Sept. 10. UTEP beat Pac-12 opponent Arizona in five sets (23-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 15-6) on Friday, Sept. 3.
Tarleton State enters its match with Texas State with a 4-5 record. The Texans have alternated wins and losses over their last five matches dating back to Sept. 3 against California. Tarleton State enters the weekend action with wins over Florida International, Eastern Washington, UC San Diego and St. Thomas (Minn.).
SERIES HISTORY
From their first meeting on Sept. 8, 2001, Texas State has been locked in against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as the Bobcats have a 16-1 record against the Islanders, which include a 16-match winning streak. AMCC snapped the streak last time the two programs met on Sept. 13, 2016, with a five-set win.
Friday morning's match will be just the second between Texas State and UTEP on a neutral site court in a series that's 18 matches long and dates to Sept. 11, 1980. The following date (Sept. 12, 1980) was the lone neutral site match with the Bobcats calling 2-1. TXST is looking for its first win over UTEP since winning in five sets on Sept. 11, 2020.
Tarleton State and Texas State will face off on a volleyball court for the first time since Sept. 21, 1979. The Bobcats have not dropped a match to the Texans as Texas State holds the all-time mark at 4-0-2.
FOLLOW US
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.
