Bobcat Volleyball Steals Five-Set Triumph

Texas State is now set to host the 2017 Creeds & Crests Classic Sept. 7-9 inside Strahan Coliseum.

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team snatched a 3-2 (31-33, 25-15, 14-25, 25-20, 15-10) come-from-behind victory over Sam Houston State Tuesday night inside Johnson Coliseum.

The Bobcats (4-2) have now won each of the last eight contests over the Bearkats (1-6) and also completed the two-match season sweep.

The sophomore tandem of Megan Porter and Amy Pflughaupt both registered their second double-doubles of the season. Porter tallied 21 digs and 18 kills, while Pflughaupt finished with 22 digs and 12 kills.

Senior Jaliyah Bolden finished with 17 kills, while junior Madison Daigle added 15 kills. Senior Erin Hoppe (34) and true freshman Brooke Johnson (23) distributed a combined 57 assists, while sophomore Micah Dinwiddie added 15 digs.

The first set was exactly what a fan could expect from two rival programs. The first momentum swing went in favor of the Bearkats when they gained a 13-9 advantage.

Texas State played from behind until the visitors were finally able to pull into a 17-17 standstill. The Bobcats went ahead 23-19 and found a pair of set points at 24-22. SHSU fended off those deficits and also swatted away five more set points from TXST. The Bearkats could not convert on their first two attempts at claiming the frame, either, but they shut the door on their third try for the 33-31 win.

The period was the longest for Texas State since playing to a 41-39 second-set triumph over UTA on Nov. 3, 2009.

SHSU was unable to carry the momentum into the second frame, as the maroon and gold pulled ahead late and evened the contest 25-15. The Bearkats were ahead 10-9 at one point, but TXST used a run to take a 17-11 lead and cruised the rest of the way.

The third game went to the home team by a 25-14 margin. The score was tied 6-6, but Sam Houston State went on a 4-1 run and never looked back. The Bearkats went on top 18-9 and stayed ahead for the 11-point margin.

The Bobcat comeback began in the fourth when Texas State secured the frame 25-20. The two sides were locked at 12-12, and a kill from Bolden gave TXST the lead for good. The Bobcats were never able to lead by more than five points, but that was good enough to send the match into a decisive fifth frame.

Sam Houston State looked to be on its way to victory when the home team jumped on top 6-1 in the final period. Texas State would not go down without a fight, however, as the maroon and gold used a 8-0 run to swing the match for good. The Bearkats were never able to get closer than two points the rest of the way, and TXST sealed the night by winning each of the final three points.

Brooke White led the Bearkats with 20 kills and 16 digs. Jordyn Vaughn added 16 kills and Taylor Cunningham threw in 11. Jaclyn White had a double-double with 46 assists and 13 digs, while Addison Miller (16) and Madison Wallace (12) chipped in double-digit digs.

The Bobcats led in kills (70-55), attack percentage (.190-.162), assists (68-51), digs (89-75) and blocks (12-7). SHSU led in aces (6-1).

Texas State is now set to host the 2017 Creeds & Crests Classic Sept. 7-9 inside Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats will host UTSA, SMU, UMass Lowell and Houston Baptist in the five-team event. Each side will play four matches.