SAN MARCOS, Texas — The Bobcats return home to host Louisiana this weekend inside Strahan Arena. The Bobcats sit 9-6 on the season with a 2-2 record in Sun Belt play.
MATCH INFO:
Oct. 6 | Texas State vs Louisiana
6 PM (CT) | Strahan Arena
TV: ESPN+
Oct. 7 | Texas State vs Louisiana
2 PM (CT) | Strahan Arena
TV: ESPN+
HISTORY:
The last time the Bobcats' faced Louisiana was in the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Tournament opening round. The Bobcats beat the Ragin' Cajuns in four sets.
The Bobcats have a 25-3 record all-time against Louisiana with its last loss coming in 2021 at home. The 2021 loss is the lone time Louisiana has beat the Bobcats in Strahan Arena in program history.
NOTES TO KNOW:
First Official RPI ranking: This week the NCAA released the first round of RPI rankings, and the Bobcats sit at 82 in week one. The Bobcats are one of just three Sun Belt Conference teams in the top-100.
50 games, 50 wins up next: Head coach
Sean Huiet sits with an impressive 45-7 (.865) record in Sun Belt Conference play since his tenure as head coach began in 2020. Huiet is on pace to hit 50 conference wins faster than his predecessor and TXST volleyball coaching legend Karen Chisum.
Chisum had coached TXST prior to it's Division I era, but once joining the Gulf Star Conference in 1984, Chisum took 62 games to earn 50 conference wins, going 50-12 in the process. Despite Chisum's impressive record amidst a conference transition, Huiet is on pace to surpass that record in the Sun Belt Conference.
Transfer Class: Graduate transfer
KJ Johnson joins the Bobcats after two years at Baylor and two years at Fairfield. In her two seasons at Fairfield she was a two-time All American and two-time MAAC Player of the Year
Newcomer
Carlee Pharris joined the Bobcats in the Spring of 2023 after redshirtting her freshman season at TCU.
Sophie Childs joins the Bobcats after transferring from Wichita State in Spring of 2023. The 6'3 outside hitter played in 36 matches over her three seasons with Wichita State, one of which was an abbreviated season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leading the Pack:
KJ Johnson is:
- Second in the Sun Belt Conference in kills/set with an average of 4.17.
- Fourth in the Sun Belt for points with an average of 4.47/set. - 26th in the country in kills per set.
Alyssa Ortega is:
- Second in the Sun Belt Conference in aces per set with 0.45.
- Second in the Sun Belt in conference games for digs per set with 5.13.
Zenai Jethroe is:
- First in the Sun Belt Conference in conference games for blocks per set with 1.50.
Last Season Rewind: The Bobcats finished the 2022 season first place in the West Division with a 24-7 record, going 14-2 in conference play. The team made an appearance in the Sun Belt Conference Championship game, losing to James Madison 3-1 and narrowly missing on an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Returning to the Mix: The Bobcats are returning one starter from the 2022 season, libero Jackie Lee. Lee started 19 matches and played 70 sets paired with 255 digs, 61 assists and 16 service aces.
Also returning are senior
Megan Woods, junior
Alyssa Ortega and sophomores
Maggie Walsh,
Bailey Hanner and
Jade Defraeye. Walsh and Ortega made big impacts off the bench for the Bobcats in the 2022 season. Both played in more than 25 matches seeing 60+ sets apiece in the 2022 season. The pair and Lee spearhead the Bobcats returners this season.
Meet the Staff: Head Coach
Sean Huiet and Associate Head Coach
Keith Anderson return to lead the staff with some new help. Huiet starts his fourth season at the helm of the program after serving as an assistant coach for 15 seasons prior. He enters the season with a 82-32 all-time record.
Former graduate assistant
Charli Fouts was promoted to assistant coach in the spring of 2023 and will stay for her first season in her new role, third overall on the staff.
Also joining the mix as an assistant coach is former Conference-USA stand-out
Carly Graham. The three-time C-USA Player of the Year and All-American joins the Bobcats staff for her first season.
Up Next:
The Bobcats will head back on the road for a pair of matches at Southern Miss on Oct. 13 and 14
th at 6 and 2 p.m., respectively.
FOLLOW US
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.
