SAN MARCOS, TX — As if the previous weeks haven't provided a punch, the Texas State volleyball program will continue its grind in the Sun Belt Conference as the Bobcats welcome conference newcomer Southern Miss to Strahan Arena for a two-match slate this weekend. 

First serve of the first-ever match between the two volleyball programs is slated for 6 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 14 with the second match scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 15. Brant Freeman and Mick Haley will call the action as both matches will be available to stream on ESPN+. 

JUST LIKE THE WHITE WINGED DOVE

• The Texas State (13-5, 5-1) and Southern Miss (12-6, 4-2) volleyball programs have never played an official Division I volleyball match against each other.
• Of the four newcomers to the Sun Belt Conference this season, Southern Miss joins Old Dominion as the only volleyball programs which Texas State has never played. 
  • Against the four newcomers — James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss — Texas State is now 4-1 against the Dukes and 1-0 versus the Thundering Herd. 
    • Texas State split a pair of regular-season conference matches against James Madison earlier this season. The Bobcats aren't scheduled to play Marshall this season.
• Texas State — tied for first place — is currently one game above Southern Miss — tied for third — in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division. 

SINGS A SONG, SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S SINGING

• When Emily DeWalt starts Friday night's match against Southern Miss, Texas State will become the only volleyball program in Sun Belt Conference history with four student-athletes having appeared in 150-or-more Division I volleyball matches. 
  • Furthermore, Texas State is the only volleyball program in league history with at least one student-athlete having played in 140-or-more career Division I volleyball matches. 
  • Former Bobcat student-athletes Tyeranee Scott (2017-21) and Brooke Johnson (2017-21) sit atop the league's record books with 158 and 153 career matches played, respectively. 
    • By playing in last Saturday's match at Louisiana, outside Janell Fitzgerald reached the 150 career matches played milestone. 
      • Emily DeWalt (149) will join Scott, Johnson and Fitzgerald when she appears in one match this weekend. 
    • The next closest student-athlete to the Bobcat foursome is App State's Emma Reilly, who appeared in 138 career matches from 2017-21. 

OOH, OOH, OHH

• After passing Kristy Braun (1991-94) for the top spot on the Texas State career assist leaderboard during a 44-assist performance at Louisiana on Saturday, Oct. 8, Emily DeWalt will enter this weekend's two-match series against Southern Miss needing only 164 more assists to pass Leslie Clark (Middle Tennessee, 2006-09) for the Sun Belt's career assist record. 

SINGS A SONG, SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S SINGING

• On Tuesday, Oct. 11, Texas State setter Emily DeWalt earned her 23rd career Sun Belt Setter of the Week honor. The recognition was the fifth for DeWalt this season, the second most for the graduate student in a single season after she picked up the award six times as a true freshman in 2018. 
  • DeWalt has earned the award at least three times in every season as a Bobcat: 2018 (6), 2019 (3), 2020 (5), 2021 (4) and 2022 (5). 
  • DeWalt's 23 setter of the week honors are eight more than the next closest student-athlete in Sun Belt history: Arkansas State's Mallory Warrington, who earned 15 during a four-year playing career from 2013-16. 
  • DeWalt is one of only two setters in Texas State history to have earned the award after Erin Hoppe (2015-17) picked up the honor six times. 
  • DeWalt is the only student-athlete in Sun Belt history to have earned the honor at least 20 times in a single volleyball career. 
  • DeWalt is also one of just four student-athletes in league history to be selected as the Sun Belt Setter of the Week on double-digit occasions. 
    • DeWalt (23) and Troy's Amara Anderson (11) are the only active Sun Belt student-athletes to have accomplished the feat. 

OOH, BABY, OOH, SAID OOH

• This weekend's two matches against Southern Miss will serve as the Texas State volleyball program's "Dig Pink" Weekend as the Bobcats will raise awareness for Breast Cancer. 
  • Pink wristbands and pom poms will be given away from fans while supplies last. 
  • An online silent auction will be conducted with items available for viewing prior to Friday night's match. The auction will close on all items at 7 p.m., Friday, with winners being alerted throughout the match. 
  • Throughout Saturday's match, donations will be acceptable for the Side-Out Foundation. 
• The Texas State volleyball program will also welcome youth volleyball players to Strahan Arena for 'Youth Day' on Friday. A post-match autograph session on the concourse area near the Castro Club will follow the night's action. 

For the latest information on the team, follow @TexasStateVball on Twitter, @TxStateVolleyball on Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be at @TxStateBobcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.