CONWAY, South Carolina — Texas State volleyball started its road trip to Conway with a five-set thriller that resulted in a win for the Bobcats. Texas State remained perfect on its trips to Conway with a 3-2 win over Coastal Carolina.
 
Highlighted by a career-best 22 kills from MJ McCurdy, the Bobcats became the first Sun Belt Conference team to beat Coastal Carolina at home this season. That, paired with a big blocking performance from Zenai Jethroe and 36 assists from Carlee Pharris off the bench pushed the Bobcats to the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
All five sets were a back-and-forth affair between the two sides. With 34 tied scores and 18 lead changes through the five sets, it started in the first set with 10 tied scores four lead changes. The two sides matched points all the way to 10-10, when the Bobcats were able to pull away to go up 14-11. The Chanticleers battled their way back though, to reclaim the lead 20-18 and ultimately went on to win the set 25-20 after a run to end the first set. The Bobcats were plagued by errors late in the first set that allowed the Chanticleers to go up and win the set.
 
Set two became a late surge from the Bobcats to take the second set. Despite Coastal Carolina getting off to a good start to go up 8-3, it was ultimately the Bobcats who won 25-20. Texas State was able to battle back and tie the score at 15 off a Pharris ace. From there, it was a 10-5 run for the Bobcats to win the set. The serve and pass game in set two was the difference maker in set two as the Bobcats five aces carried them to the win Coastal Carolina.
 
The 'Cats had control of the third set the entire way through. While limiting Coastal Carolina to 11 kills and a .098 attack percentage, the Bobcats hit a .282 with 16 kills with five errors in the third set. McCurdy tallied eight of those kills on her own as she led the team to a 25-19 win in set three.
 
Set four was the opposite of set two. The Bobcats were able to get off to a good start,but late scoring woes for the Bobcats helped Coastal Carolina to the set win. Despite the Bobcats going up 24-21, five unanswered points helped the Chanticleers get the fourth set. Despite both sides getting 15 kills, Texas State's errors cost them set four.
 
It was a battle in the early goings of the fifth set, but the Bobcats pulled away through the middle after forcing two attack errors, one courtesy of a Pharris block. That helped the Bobcats start their run to a 13-8 lead. From there, two kills by Wunsch sealed the set for the Bobcats. In a five-set thriller, Texas State won the 5^th set 15-11.

Texas State is now 16-8 on the season with a 10-3 record in Sun Belt play, sitting in second place of the Sun Belt West Division standings. 

STAT LEADERS

• Kills – MJ McCurdy (22)
• Assists – Carlee Pharris (36)
• Blocks – Zenai Jethroe (5)
• Digs – Alyssa Ortega (17)

 
SCORES BY SET

• 1st | Texas State 20, Coastal Carolina 25
• 2nd | Texas State 25, Coastal Carolina 20
• 3rd | Texas State 25, Coastal Carolina 19
• 4^th | Texas State 24, Coastal Carolina 26
• 5^th | Texas State 15, Coastal Carolina 11

UP NEXT
The Bobcats will see the Chanticleers tomorrow, Nov. 9 at 1 pm. The match will be streamed on ESPN+. Following this weekend the Bobcats will return home for two matches with James Madison to close the season. Those matches will be Nov. 14 and 15 at 4:30 and 6 pm.

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.