HOUSTON, Texas — After the opening day of the 2024 regular season, Texas State holds a perfect record after battling for two wins against Houston Christian and Texas Southern in Day 1 of the Rice Invitational.

Game 1: TXST 3, Houston Christian 2
Set one was a battle until the end between the Bobcats and the Huskies. There were 11 tied scores and three lead changes as the two teams worked to gain an advantage. Maggie Walsh and Sam Wunsch led with four kills each for the Bobcats in set one. Ultimately, though, HCU was able to pull away at the end as had back to back aces to end the first set with a 25-19 lead.
 
Set two started off equally close, with both sides matching points most the way through until the Bobcats pulled away at the end, going from tied 18-18 to winning set 25-22. Wunsch and Walsh continued to lead in kills, while Bailey Hanner tacked on three of her own.
 
Houston Christian snuck away with set three, but the Bobcats came into set four on a mission and dominated the fourth set. Highlighted by out-hitting the Huskies, the Bobcats had 14 kills to their eight in set four. 
 
Set five started off back and forth again between the two sides, but when the Bobcats found themselves with a 10-8 lead, they used that momentum to carry themselves to a five-set win. 

STAT LEADERS

• Kills – MJ McCurdy (16)
• Assists – Ryann Torres (42)
• Service Aces – Alyssa Ortega (2)
• Blocks – Ryann Torres (2)
• Digs – Alyssa Ortega (20)

 
SCORES BY SET

• 1st | Texas State 19, Houston Christian 25
• 2nd | Texas State 25, Houston Christian 22
• 3rd | Texas State 22, Houston Christian 25
• 4^th | Texas State 25, Houston Christian 17
• 5^th | Texas State 15, Houston Christian 12

 
Game 2: TXST 3, Texas Southern 1
Despite having played a five setter earlier in the day, the Bobcats came into match two with their foot on the gas. Going up early in set one by an 11-4 scoreline, they were able to hold off Texas Southern and took the first set 25-15. Freshman McCurdy continued to impress with four kills and a .375 attack percentage in the first set.
 
The second set started off a lot closer, but the Bobcats were able to pull away let. After tying the game up 6-6, the Bobcats never trailed again. Going up by as many as nine at one point, the Bobcats were able to win set two 25-19. Five aces in the second set helped propel the Bobcats to a 2-0 advantage in the match.
 
Texas Southern was able to pile some momentum together and win set three by seven points.
 
Despite that, though, the Bobcats came back swinging in set four. After finding themselves up 5-1 early, they kept that energy running. Three straight kills by MJ McCurdy extended their lead to seven and from there it was only a matter of time. While swinging .414 as a team, the Bobcats were able to tally 15 kills and two service aces in their 25-13 set four win.
 
Texas State now sits 2-0 after the first day of the 2024 season.

STAT LEADERS

• Kills – MJ McCurdy (13)
• Assists – Ryann Torres (31)
• Service Aces – MJ McCurdy (3)
• Blocks – Jade Defraeye (4)
• Digs – Alyssa Ortega (13)

 
SCORES BY SET

• 1st | Texas State 25, Texas Southern 15
• 2nd | Texas State 25, Texas Southern 19
• 3rd | Texas State 18, Texas Southern 25
• 4^th | Texas State 25, Texas Southern 13

 
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will play the Invitational hosts Rice tomorrow, Aug. 31, at 3 pm. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ as the Bobcats look to go perfect on the weekend and start their 13 straight road matches with a 3-0 start.
 
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