SAN MARCOS, Texas – Fresh off a win at home against Fresno State, Texas State Volleyball closed out its 2026 home slate on a high note with a 3-1 win over San Diego State.
The Bobcats (9-16 overall, 4-10 Pac-12) utilized three-straight sets with hitting percentages over .200 and a strong net defense to take the win from the Aztecs (15-8 overall, 10-3 Pac-12). Fifth year India Bennett posted the best single-match hitting percentage of any Bobcat this season with a .667 (15-1-21) and 15 kills on the night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 25-19
The Aztecs came out hot in the first set, posting a .394 hitting percentage that produced 18 kills. Though producing only 11 kills, Texas State's offense was just as respectable, producing a .346 hitting percentage in the first frame. Bennett began to collect her kills with four while sophomore Peyton McKee, redshirt freshman Ashley Euston, and senior Brooke Bentke all collected two kills each. The Bobcats also produced its first block of the night thanks to McKee and Euston.
Set 2: 26-24
A crucial challenge that fell Texas State's way seemed to shift momentum in a big way on Thursday. A serve from Bentke looked to miss just past the end line, but a challenge reversed the call and suddenly the Bobcats found themselves up by one. San Diego State tied the set at 24-24, but crucial errors began to plague the Aztecs and Texas State came away with the set, 26-24. McKee added another four kills to her total while Bennett grabbed a pair to bring her total to six through two sets to help Texas State to a .233 hitting percentage. Freshman Janet Onuorah was the best Bobcat at the net, finishing the frame with two blocks including a solo effort. Bennett matched Onuorah's efforts with two block assists of her own as senior Ameena Campbell rounded out the defense with one block. At the service line, Texas State recorded its first service aces of the night with one from McKee and another from Bentke.
Set 3: 25-15
The third set of the night featured a match-best eight-point scoring run for the Bobcats, moving from tied at 12-12 to finishing the run at 20-12 thanks to an Aztec miscue. Though the offense tallied a respectable 11 kills, the defense registered more blocks in the third set alone than the Bobcats totaled in six different matches this season. The third frame saw Texas State post five total blocks thanks to five different Bobcats, led by Bennett with four block assists. Campbell grabbed the lone solo block and a block assists while senior Ally Adair, McKee, and Euston all earned one block each. Texas State continued to dominate at the service line, posting five service aces to the Aztecs' zero. McKee turned in her three service aces within four points and freshman Karis Carpenter tallied two of her own. On offense, the Bobcats recorded a .259 hitting percentage led by Bennett with four kills.
Set 4: 25-16
The Bobcats completely dominated in the fourth set, allowing the Aztecs to tie the score twice, but never take the lead. San Diego State tied at 1-1 and 3-3, but the Bobcats began to inflate their lead and never let the Aztecs get closer than two points the rest of the way. Bennett once again led the Bobcats' offense with five kills on a staggering .833 hitting clip. McKee followed with three kills and four other Bobcats combined for the remaining seven to finish with a .243 hitting clip. Senior Dylan Gilkey made her own contribution at the service line, adding the eighth and final service ace of the night. At the net, Euston, Bentke, Campbell, and Bennett, all combined efforts to post the two blocks of the frame.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Sean Huiet on the Win Over San Diego State
"It's kind of a sigh of relief. I feel like that's one of the things we've been working on all season and I think you saw it. We keep talking about our season not being what we wanted but we wanted to end on a strong note. We want to send these seniors out feeling good. I'm super proud of how we played tonight against a very good team. They're very good, they're in second place for a reason. I'm just proud of how we played tonight."
NOTABLE
- Texas State's offense was led by India Bennett with 15 kills on .667 hitting efficiency.
- Peyton McKee led at the service line with four service aces.
- Bennett also led in blocks with seven.
- Three Bobcats finished in double-digit digs led by Jasmine Purakal with 13. Freshman Izzy Scholvin tallied 10 as did McKee.
- The Bobcats posted more digs than the Aztecs, 52-48.
- Thursday's match marked the 10th match this season with 10 or more total blocks (11).
UP NEXT
Texas State embarks on its final week of regular season play beginning with a match against Colorado State on Tuesday, Nov. 17. First serve in Fort Collins, Colo., is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on the Pac-12 YouTube channel.
