KNOXVILLE, TN — Texas State volleyball holds a 1-1 record after the opening day of the 2023 volleyball season. After sweeping Marist College 3-0 to open the day, the Bobcats saw a 3-0 loss to the Tennessee Lady Vols in the evening game.

Game 1: TXST 3, Marist College 0
Set one started back and forth, with the Bobcats holding a lead. The Bobcats held a consistent for most of the set until the latter half. A big kill by KJ Johnson, who hit .833 in set one and .609 on the day, started an 8-2 run to win the first set 25-17. The Bobcats forced some critical attack errors by the Red Wolves paired with a few massive kills to solidify the win.

Set two saw more of the same dominance from the Bobcats. The team hit .448 in set two, led by sophomore Jade Defraye and Johnson, who each hit .500 (3-0-6 and 5-0-10, respectively). The Bobcats started set two with an 11-2 run thanks to a slew of blocks from Defraye and Samantha Wunsch, pairing with the efficient swinging was enough for a comfortable 25-15 win in set two.

To start set three the Bobcats and Marist were matching point-for-point, until a big block by Ryann Torres swung momentum in favor of the Bobcats. 

After that a 5-1 run put some distance between the two sides and Texas State continued its strong hitting into another 25-17 set win. Johnson and Bailey Hanner's four kills apiece in set three helped the team to keep hitting above .400 in set three and they'd finish the match hitting .438 as a team. Additionally, The Bobcats out-blocked the Red Wolves nine to zero on the morning,

STAT LEADERS

• Kills – KJ Johnson (14)
• Assists – Ryann Torres (32)
• Service Aces – Alyssa Ortega, Olivia Adair, Bailey Hanner (1)
• Blocks – Samantha Wunsch, Jade Defraeye (4)
• Digs – Jacqueline Lee (8)

SCORES BY SET

• 1st | Texas State 25, Marist 17
• 2nd | Texas State 25, Marist 15
• 3rd | Texas State 25, Marist 17

Game 2: TXST 0, Tennessee 3
Texas State started off strong against the Vols. After keeping it close early, the Bobcats were able to take an 8-7 lead thanks to three kills by Bailey Hanner, whose three kills lead the team in set one. One of Johnson's team-high seven kills extended the Bobcats lead 9-7. The Vols went on a 6-0 run after tying things back up at 11 to put the set just out of reach for TXST. Despite the Bobcats pulling things back within two points, a 4-0 run by the Vols won the set 25-19.

Set two saw the Vols jumping out to a 7-3 lead early, but some strong individual performances held the Bobcats close. Johnson had three kills to help match points with the Vols and keep the game within four points. A 4-0 run from the Vols would separate them from the close affair and ultimately help them to a 25-18 win in set two.

Set three saw the Vols winning 25-15 after a pair of 4-0 runs gave them a 13-5 lead the Bobcats tried to bring back. In the late stages of the set, the Vols strung together a 5-0 run to make things 23-13 and coasted to the three-set win.

STAT LEADERS

• Kills – KJ Johnson (7)
• Assists – Ryann Torres (18)
• Service Aces – Alyssa Ortega, Olivia Adair, Maggie Walsh (1)
• Blocks – Samantha Wunsch (2)
• Digs – Jacqueline Lee (8)

SCORES BY SET

• 1st | Tennessee 25, Texas State 19
• 2nd | Tennessee 25, Texas State 18
• 3rd | Tennessee 25, Texas State 15

 
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will close out the 2023 Tennessee Classic with a match versus UT Martin tomorrow, Aug. 26 at 9 a.m. (CT). The match will not be streamed, but live stats can be found at txst.com/stats. Following the Tennessee Classic, the Bobcats will return home and host the TXST Invitational where they'll host North Texas and #19 Houston.
 
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