EDINBURG, Texas — Texas State volleyball closes out its five-game road swing to open the season at the Southwest Showdown this weekend. The tournament is hosted by UTRGV from Sept. 4-6 where the Bobcats will play three games against the Vaqueros, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi and UTEP.
 
All three matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
THE OPPONENTS:
UTRGV:

• UTRGV enters the weekend with a 1-2 record after a win versus LIU and losses to Gonzaga and Grand Canyon to open the season. 
• The Vaqueros were 16-12 in 2024, which included a 3-0 loss to Texas State in last years' Southwest Showdown.
• Texas State has a 26-1 record all-time against the Vaqueros. Texas State's lone loss was at UTRGV on Oct. 20, 2002. 

• The Vaqueros are led by Martina Franco who is averaging 4.38 points per set and 4.00 kills per set so far. They are set by Isabella Constantini who is averaging 8.00 assists per set. The defensive work is spearheaded by Celianiz Cabranes who is averaging 5.92 digs per set so far.

 
TAMUCC:

• TAMUCC enters the weekend with a 1-2 record after losses to Fresno State and Arizona, and a win over Alabama State.
• The Islanders finished 2024 with a 20-11 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the Southland Conference Tournament.
• Texas State has a 17-2 record all-time against Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, including a 3-0 win last season at the Southwest Showdown.

• Leading the offense for TAMUCC is Katelyn Krienke who's averaging 2.36 kills and 2.73 points per set. She's set by Virginia Van Der Werff who has 9.00 assists per set. The defense is led by Brooklyn Jaeger who has 3.36 digs per set.

 
UTEP:

• UTEP enters the week as the lone undefeated team in the Southwest Showdown, with a 3-0 record.
• Last season, UTEP finished the season 27-6 with an NCAA tournament appearance and a semi-final loss in the Conference USA Tournament.
• Texas State is 7-13 all-time against UTEP, including a 3-0 loss against the Miners last season in the Southwest Showdown.

• The Miners offense is led by Torrance Lovesee who is averaging 4.40 points and 3.50 kills per set. Their attack is set by Kalia Kohler and Mattie Gantt who each average 5.50 assists per set. The digging is led by Fuka Sekita who's averaging 3.70 digs per set.

 
NOTES TO KNOW:

• 2024 Season Rewind: The Bobcats finished the 2024 season as Sun Belt Conference Tournament Champions and second place in the Sun Belt West Division with a 22-9 record, going 13-3 in conference play. Texas State won three-straight matches with 3-0 sweeps to win the Sun Belt Championship. The team was then selected to the Dallas regional for its second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
• Preseason Polls: The Bobcats were selected to finish first place in the West Division in the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Poll. Texas State also had two players, Jade Defraeye and Sam Wunsch, be named Preseason All-Conference.
• Win tHe daY: The 2025 team mantra is 'Win tHe daY' which serves as the team's reminder to do the work each day to get to their goals in the postseason. Texas State is hoping to make a Sweet 16 appearance for the first time in program history this year, and winning each day is what it's going to take to get there. Whether it's making sure work is done in the classroom, giving your all at practice, or in the treatment room, winning the day is this team's WHY for the season.
• Returners: The Bobcats are returning four starters from the 2024 season, including, Samantha Wunsch, Jade Defraeye, Maggie Walsh, Bailey Hanner.
  • Also returning for the Bobcats is Alyssa Clark, Brooke Bentke, Nina Moorer, Caelyn Emmerling, Anna Blaine and Ally Adair
• Newcomers: The Bobcats are welcoming four freshmen and two transfers to the team this season.
  • Incoming freshmen includes outsides Britton Finley, Isabella Andrews and Adison Ozuna, and middle blocker Ashley Euston who spent her spring 2025 season at Mizzou.
  • Pacific transfer, Dylan Gilkey, joins the squad as a setter.
  • Cal State Fullerton transfer, Ameena Campbell, joins the squad as an outside.
• Meet the Staff: Head Coach Sean Huiet enters his sixth year in charge and a 118-48 record in his tenure. Huiet returns Keith Anderson (6^th year), Charli Fouts (5^th year) and Drew Carter (2^nd year) to his staff this season. 
  • Additionally, Huiet has brought on graduate assistant coach Callahan Hefner to the staff. He joins the program after previously being a manager at Grand Canyon.

UP NEXT
Texas State will have its home opener on Sept. 11 vs Arizona State as the first game of the Texas State Invitational. Texas State will host Tulsa and Incarnate Word as well, playing Tulsa on Sept. 12 at 6 pm and Incarnate Word on Sept. 13 at 4 pm. All three matches will be streamed on ESPN+. The team will then head to Stanford for a tournament from Sept. 19-21.
 
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.