EL PASO, Texas — Texas State volleyball improved to 2-0 in the Southwest Showdown with another sweep, this time over the UTRGV Vaqueros on Saturday morning. The Bobcats now sit with a 6-4 record on the year as they head into the final match of non-conference play.
 
Texas State started the match out on a 5-0 streak and a lead that never wavered. The early lead was spearheaded by Bailey Hanner's service which counted an ace. Hanner would go on to five kills and a block in the first set. That, four kills from MJ McCurdy and four team blocks for the Bobcats helped Texas State get the first set win 25-14. Texas State held the Vaqueros to just a .037 attack percentage with just seven kills. Texas State his .458 during the first set.
 
Set two was more even between the two sides, but Texas State still got out to a 3-0 lead in the beginning that they never lost. McCurdy went for an additional six kills with no errors in the second set as she helped the team to a 25-19 set win. The Bobcat defense continued to excel with three blocks while forcing six attack errors and six block errors. 
 
The third set started close, but a 9-0 run for the Bobcats took the score from 5-4 to 14-4 quick in the third set, which gave the Bobcats all the momentum they needed to sweep the match. The run came from service by Alyssa Ortega who tallied an ace and eight digs in the third set alone. That, paired with 16 kills from the Bobcats as they swung .483 was enough to seal a 25-13 win in set three. 
 
Texas State will face UTEP tomorrow, Sept. 22 in the finale of the Southwest Showdown. The match will be at noon (MT) / 1 pm (CT) and streamed on ESPN+.

STAT LEADERS

• Kills – Sam Wunsch/MJ McCurdy (12)
• Assists – Ryann Torres (32)
• Blocks – Caelyn Emmerling, Ryann Torres, Jade Defraeye (4)
• Digs – Alyssa Ortega (14)

 
SCORES BY SET

• 1st | Texas State 25, UTRGV 14
• 2nd | Texas State 25, UTRGV 19
• 3rd | Texas State 25, UTRGV 13

UP NEXT
Texas State will close out the Southwest Showdown tomorrow versus the hosts, UTEP, at noon (MT) / 1 pm (CT). This match will be streamed on ESPN+. Next week Texas State will open conference play at Louisiana on Sept. 27. The Bobcats will have its home opener on Oct. 4 vs Troy as part of Show 'Em State Weekend inside Strahan Arena.

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.