SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State volleyball dropped its first match in eight matches to East Division leaders Coastal Carolina at home Thursday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set was a constant battle between the two sides. With 10 tied scores and three lead changes, both sides had the advantage at various moments. The difference maker, though, was the Coastal Carolina attack. Despite the stat line being similar on the defensive side of the ball, the Chanticleers 17 blocks to the Bobcats 12 was enough to give them the edge, winning set one 25-22.

Set two was all Bobcats, though. Despite narrowly losing the opening set, the Bobcats bounced back for a dominant set two. Highlighted by a massive five blocks from Bailey Hanner and five kills from KJ Johnson, the Bobcats put an exclamation mark on the set with the 25-15 win. The Bobcats continued to have a nation-leading blocking rate in the second set with a season high for blocks in a single set with eight team blocks. The blocking was the difference maker for the Bobcats in set two as the two teams were matched in kill count.

Set three again went in favor of the visitors, though. Despite again having a back-and-forth set with eight tied scored and three lead changes, the Bobcats were out-dug and out-blocked on the set and it helped the Chanticleers won the set 25-21. Despite Samantha Wunsch's six kills, it wasn't enough to overcome the late-set scoring run the Chanticleers went on.

The final set was again a close set, but the Chanticleers were able to take the narrow win in set four to win the match. Despite five kills off some impressive setters dumps by Ryann Torres, but Coastal Carolina still found the way to a 25-22 win in set four.

WHAT HEAD COACH SEAN HUIET SAID: "I'm frustrated. Coastal is a very good team but I thought my staff did a very good job of preparing our team and we just didn't really execute. It seemed flat. We have to figure that out. I don't know if the pressure of playing for a championship set it, it just felt flat tonight. We've got to adjust and be ready to come back tomorrow because that's a match we've got to get back."

STAT LEADERS

• Kills – KJ Johnson, Samantha Wunsch (14)
• Assists – Ryann Torres (44)
• Service Aces – Alyssa Ortega (3)
• Blocks – Bailey Hanner (9)
• Digs – Alyssa Ortega (26)

SCORES BY SET

1. 1st | Coastal Carolina 25, Texas State 22
2. 2nd | Texas State 25, Coastal Carolina 15
3. 3rd | Coastal Carolina 25, Texas State 21
4. 4th | Coastal Carolina 25, Texas State 22 

MATCH NOTES

• The Bobcats are now 18-8 on the season and 11-4 in Sun Belt Conference play with the loss to Coastal. 
• Head coach Sean Huiet sits at 93 career wins, with an 93-36 record in his four-year tenure at Texas State. He has a 54-9 record in Sun Belt Conference games. 
• Bailey Hanner had a career-high nine blocks against Coastal Carolina.
• Alyssa Ortega had a career-high 26 digs against Coastal Carolina.

UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will celebrate Senior Night tomorrow against Coastal Carolina at 6 p.m. as they honor their three graduates, KJ Johnson, Sophie Childs and Megan Woods.

After the weekend matches with Coastal, Texas State will head to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Foley, Alabama. With clinching the first seed in the division, the Bobcats will begin play on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. against the winner of the match between the fourth seed in the east and fifth seed in the west.
 
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