SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State volleyball got its 9th sweep of the season on Friday night versus Southern Miss to improve to 8-3 in Sun Belt play. After Texas State didn't trail a single point until the final set of the match, they were able to put away the Golden Eagles in three sets.
 
Sam Wunsch led both sides on the night with 14 kills, paired with nine from Maggie Walsh and Jade Defraeye for the teams 51 kills tonight. That, paired with 43 assists in three sets from Ryann Torres and 10.0 team blocks was enough for the Bobcats to get the three-set win.
 
WHAT HEAD COACH SEAN HUIET SAID: "I'm really proud that we got that in three tonight. I thought that we started really strong and they made some adjustments. We know every night in the Sun Belt is a dog fight. I thought they made some good adjustments that took our side a little longer in that third set to adjust. But as you see there at the end we adjusted at the right time and made that run there to win the set. There were some really fun plays tonight there at the end and it was exciting volleyball."

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Bobcats came out the aggresors in the first set and got themselves out to an early lead. While out-attacking the Golden Eagles 16-8, Texas State was able to gain momentum early in the set. With the attack flowing from everyone as six players made up the 16 kills, it was all Bobcats in the opening set. While extending their lead to as much as 12 when the score was 18-6, Texas State let Southern Miss take a few points at the end of the set. Ultimately, though, the deficit was too big and Texas State won the first set 25-16 without ever allowing Southern Miss a lead.
 
The Bobcats streak with the lead continued into the second set when another fast start saw the Bobcats go up 5-2 in the early stages. The Bobcats continued to silence the Golden Eagle attack, allowing them just five kills and eight errors as Southern Miss hit -.083 in the second set. The Bobcats hit .393 for 14 kills in set two. Texas State had extended their lead to as many as 10, going up 20-10 in the final points of the match. From there, it was a 5-0 run spearheaded by Alyssa Ortega's serving that sealed the set.
 
Set three was more balanced between the two sides as Texas State found themselves down for the first time all night midway through the first set. Despite starting off strong, adjustments made by the Golden Eagles allowed them to go on a run and find themselves up 20-16. From there, though, the Bobcats went on a run of their own and tied things up at 21, courtesy of a kill by Maggie Walsh. The final points of the set consisted of long rallies and back and forth points, but ultimately it was Texas State who reached set point first. On their first attempt, Bailey Hanner called game with her 8^th kill of the night. Hanner hit all three set points tonight for the Bobcats, as part of her .278 attack percentage night.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
This was the Bobcats 9th win in three sets of the season. The team is now 14-8 on the season with an 8-3 record in Sun Belt play, sitting in third place of the Western Division.

STAT LEADERS

• Kills – Sam Wunsch (14)
• Assists – Ryann Torres (43)
• Blocks – Jade Defraeye (7)
• Digs – Alyssa Ortega (23)

 
SCORES BY SET

• 1st | Texas State 25, Southern Miss 16
• 2nd | Texas State 25, Southern Miss 10
• 3rd | Texas State 25, Southern Miss 23

UP NEXT
The Bobcats will face Southern Miss again tomorrow, November 2^nd, at 2pm. After that the Bobcats will go on the road for two matches at Coastal Carolina on November 8^th and 9^th in their final road games of the season. 

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