EL PASO, Texas – Texas State volleyball will wrap up its non-conference slate with three matches in El Paso against in-state foes this weekend. The 'Cats will take on Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, UTRGV and UTEP.
The Bobcats will open the UTEP Southwest Showdown with Texas A&M – Corpus Christi at 4 pm on Sept. 20. The team will then face UTRGV on Sept. 21 at 11 am. Rounding out the tournament, the Bobcats will face UTEP on Sept. 22 at 1 pm with the match being streamed on ESPN+.
About Texas State
Coming off a 20-10 season that saw the team earn its first at-large bid to the NCAA tournament in program history, Texas State returns most of its lineup from the 2023 season. Highlighted by reigning Defensive Player of the Year
Jade Defraeye and all-conference selections
Ryann Torres,
Alyssa Ortega and Sam Wunsch, the Bobcats return all but one member of its starters.
The Bobcats will opened the 2024 season with 13 consecutive road matches which started with the team off with a 4-4 record after the Rice Invitational, matches at UTSA (3-1 win) and Texas A&M (3-0 loss), and the Outrigger Invitational in Hawaii. This road-heavy schedule is partially due to the Bobcats initially anticipating hosting one of the 2024 Presidential Debates. The Bobcats will have just eight regular season home games, beginning in October. The team's non-conference slate will end this weekend in El Paso, with conference play starting on Sept. 27 at Louisiana.
The Bobcats are led by 5th year head coach
Sean Huiet who comes into the week with a 99-41 record at the helm of the Bobcats after serving as the assistant coach of the program since 2006.
About TAMUCC
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi has started the 2024 season with a 4-4 record with wins over Texas Tech, Texas Southern, Jacksonville State and North Florida. The Islanders finished the 2023 season with a 22-10 record and a 16-2 conference record.
TAMUCC is led by 9th year head coach Steve Greene who sits with a 139-104 record in his time with the Islanders.
Texas State has a 16-2 record all-time against the Islanders. Their last meeting came in 2021 when the Bobcats lost 3-2. Texas State's two losses came in the last two meetings with TAMUCC, with the Bobcats having 16-straight wins beforehand.
About UTRGV
UTRGV started the 2024 season with a 4-4 record which included wins over Charlotte, Furman, Charleston Southern and Akron. The Vaqueros counted a 3-2 loss against Texas Tech, as well as losses to San Francisco, Wyoming and Cleveland State. In 2023, the team had a 19-12 record on the season and went 12-4 in conference play.
UTRGV is led by 10th year head coach Todd Lowery who sits with a 155-120 record in his time with the Vaqueros.
In 26 meetings with UTRGV, Texas State has only lost one time. The lone loss came in 2001 when the Bobcats lost 3-0. Since then, the Bobcats are on a nine-game win streak which includes the teams most recent meeting in 2019 where the Bobcats won 3-1.
About UTEP
UTEP started the 2024 season with a 7-2 record that counted wins over Montana State, Iowa State, SFA, Air Force, Southeastern Louisiana, Utah State and Green Bay. The Miners have only lost to South Dakota and Utah in their opening game of the season. The team is coming off a 2023 campaign that saw them go 25-10 on the year with an 11-5 record in conference play. The team made an appearance in the NIVC Championship where they lost to Wichita State in the final.
UTEP is led by 5th year head coach Ben Wallis who sits with a 89-53 record in his time with the Miners.
Texas State has a 13-6 record all-time against UTEP. In their last meeting in 2021, Texas State won 3-0. Before that the Bobcats lost at home to the Miners in 2020. In El Paso, Texas State has a 3-3 record all-time with their last meeting in 2006 being a 3-2 loss.
Up next:
The Bobcats will start conference play at Louisiana on Sept. 27 at 6 pm and Sept. 28 at 1 pm. The matches will be streamed on ESPN+. The team will have its first home matches on Oct. 4/5 versus Troy.
