SAN MARCOS, TX — Texas State volleyball hosted the reigning national champions in a spring match on Friday evening where the Bobcats kept the Longhorns close throughout the night.
 
The Bobcats were able to match the Longhorns through the opening set. Until the late stages of the set, Texas never held a lead larger than four points and there were four lead changes in the first set.
 
Sophie Childs led the way with four kills in the first set alone. 

In the second set the Bobcats lost narrowly, falling 25-23. The Longhorns seldom had a two-point lead and only had a three-point lead twice. Through the middle of the set the Bobcats held a lead as high as four points. 
 
At the end of the second set the two teams traded kills until an attack error was the difference needed for the Longhorns to take the set.
 
"We did some really good things tonight," said Head Coach Sean Huiet.  "We had moments that we will learn from. With a young group it was good to get tested by the defending national champs and see how we would respond."

Sets three and four would be a bit more spread between the two sides with Texas winning 25-10 and 25-13. Texas State looked to avenge themselves in the fifth set.

The fifth set was a back-and-forth affair for 20 points. After Texas started out on a 9-3 run, the Bobcats rallied back to level things at 10 apiece. Three kills from Maggie Walsh and a pair from Samantha Wunsch would put the Bobcats right back into it and keep the game within one point until the end. Texas would narrowly take set five by a 20-18 score line.

Huiet liked the rebound he saw from his team in the fifth set. 

"I especially loved our competitive energy in the 5th set and overall am pleased with where this group is at," he said. "We look forward to going back and watch the video from tonight's match and use it to continue getting better.

The Bobcats will close the 2023 spring season on April 6 against UTSA. The game will be in San Antonio inside UTSA's Convocation Center with the match slated to start at 7 p.m.


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