SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State volleyball will have its home opener this week as part of the Texas State Invitational where the Bobcats will host #9 Arizona State, Tulsa and Incarnate Word.
 
Texas State will open with #9 Arizona State on Sept. 11 at 6 pm as part of First Responders Night in Strahan Arena. Texas State will also play Tulsa on Sept. 12 at 6 pm, and Incarnate Word on Sept. 13 at 4 pm.
 
For full broadcast information, stats and neutral site tournament games go to txst.com. Fans can also purchase tickets at txst.com/tickets or tune in to Texas State's matches on ESPN+. Texas State's matches versus Arizona State and Incarnate Word will also be on KTSW 89.9, Texas State's student radio.
 
THE OPPONENTS:
#9 Arizona State:

• Arizona State enters the weekend with a 4-1 record with a win over #2 Penn State and their lone loss to #9 Pitt. 
• The Sun Devils were 30-3 in 2024, which included a 3-0 loss to Texas State in last years' Southwest Showdown.
• Texas State has a 1-3 record all-time against the Sun Devils. Texas State won the last meeting between the two teams on Sept. 15, 2018 in Tempe.
• The Sun Devils are led by Noemie Glover who is averaging 5.50 kills per set so far with a .339 average. They are set by Sydney Henry who is averaging 8.53 assists per set. The defensive work is spearheaded by Faith Frame who is averaging 3.77 digs per set so far.

Tulsa:

• Tulsa enters the weekend with a 4-2 record with their lone loss being to Colorado. Tulsa has wins against Oklahoma and Arkansas.
• Tulsa finished 2024 with an 18-11 record after a first-round loss in the American Athletic Conference Championship.
• Texas State has a 3-2 record all-time Tulsa, with their last loss coming in 1995.
• Leading the offense for Tulsa is Lauren Eitler and Olivia Vance with 2.76 kills per set apiece. They're set by Brayden Hipp who has 8.81 assists per set. The defense is led by Lauren Patterson who has 3.43 digs per set. 

Incarnate Word:

• Incarnate Word enters the week with a 3-3 record including losses to Oklahoma, BYU and Wichita State.
• Last season, Incarnate Word finished the season 17-11 with a loss to Southeastern Louisiana in the second round of the Southland Conference Championship.
• Texas State is 11-1 all-time against Incarnate Word with nine wins in the last 10 meetings.
• The Cardinal's offense is led by Finley Evans who is averaging 2.28 kills and 3.40 points per set. Their attack is set by Calissa Allison who averages 7.50 assists per set. She also leads the digging with 3.50 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 is in his sixth year in charge and a 120-49 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 go to Stanford for three matches next. Texas State will play UCLA at 6 pm (CT) on Sept. 19, Stanford at 6:30 pm on Sept. 20 and Hawaii on Sept. 21 at 1 pm. The Bobcats match against Stanford will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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.