Maroon & Gold Weekend Wrap-Up: Men, Women’s Basketball, Early Signing Period, Baseball & Volleyball
Maroon & Gold Weekend Wrap-Up: Men, Women’s Basketball, Early Signing Period, Baseball & Volleyball
NOTE: TXST Fires Football Coach Withers after only three seasons — This is a developing story and will be updated here when more information is available.
Maroon & Gold Weekend Wrap-Up:
Men and Women’s Basketball with an Early Signing Period & Volleyball
Texas State Wins 2018 Sun Belt Volleyball Championship
Bobcats sweep App State in tournament finals, Daigle named MOP, Fitzgerald, Huskey land on all-tourney team
ATLANTA – The Texas State volleyball team swept Appalachian State 3-0 (27-25, 25-12, 25-18) to win the 2018 Sun Belt Volleyball Championship Sunday afternoon inside GSU Sports Arena.
The top-seeded Bobcats (26-6) earned their first tournament championship since winning the title in their first year in the league (2013). They also secured the Sun Belt’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. The NCAA Selection Show will be broadcast live on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25. The maroon and gold will be making their first trip to the NCAA’s since 2013 and will be making their 10th appearance in school history.
The No. 2 seed Mountaineers dropped to 22-8 on the year.
Senior Madison Daigle finished with a match-high 12 kills on a .476 hitting percentage. She was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and became the first Bobcat since 2013 to win the honor (Caylin Mahoney). Joining her on the championship all-tournament team were junior Cheyenne Huskey and true freshman Janell Fitzgerald. Huskey tallied nine kills and just one error (.308), adding six digs, two blocks and two aces. Fitzgerald finished with nine kills on a .316 hitting clip and three blocks.
True freshman Emily DeWalt registered 28 assists, while junior Micah Dinwiddie (10), sophomore Brooke Johnson (11) and true freshman Kayla Granado (10) combined for 31 digs.
Kara Spicer led App State with 10 kills, but she hit just .182 in the match. Becky Porter registered 29 assists and 12 digs, while Emma Reilly finished with a match-high 19 digs.
Texas State led the way in kills (43-33), attack percentage (.330-.153), assists (39-32), and blocks (10-4). The Mountaineers led in digs (47-43).
SET 1
Texas State was able to steal a contentious opening stanza 27-25 to earn the early shot of momentum. Appalachian State initially led 7-1 and later held a commanding 11-4 advantage as the maroon and gold had a tough time eliminating the early-match jitters. The Bobcats settled in around the midway point of the period and began to chip away at the deficit. The Mountaineers enjoyed one final breath of fresh air at 21-16, but Texas State ventured on a 7-0 run to take its first lead of the day. App State was able to extend proceedings by fending off the first three TXST set points, but the Bobcats finally put their stamp on the period with an App service error and a kill from freshman Jillian Slaughter.
SET 2
The Bobcats turned on the afterburners in the second and cruised to a 25-12 triumph. The two sides initially chopped up the first 10 points, and TXST used an 11-2 run from there to find a commanding 16-7 advantage. Appalachian State could not find a way back into the frame as the top seed played out the rest of the set with a double-digit lead. The final four points were all scored on kills from Daigle.
SET 3
TXST went on top 5-4 early and led the rest of the way en route to claiming the title, 25-18. The Bobcats stretched their lead out to 12-5 at one point and held the Mountaineers at bay from there. App State pulled within four at 18-14, but the side would get no closer.
Texas State improved to 10-4 all-time in the Sun Belt Championship tournament and was making its fourth appearance in the title match since 2013. The Bobcats also improved to 6-3 all-time over the Mountaineers, which includes another sweep earlier this season in San Marcos.
2018 Sun Belt Volleyball Championship All-Tournament Team
Veronica Marin, Little Rock
Carlisa May, Arkansas State
Emma Longley, Appalachian State
Becky Porter, Appalachian State
• Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State
• Cheyenne Huskey, Texas State
• Most Outstanding Player – Madison Daigle, Texas State
TXST’s comeback effort falls short in 67-59 loss to MSU
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State women’s basketball team (1-2) failed to overcome a slow start in a 67-59 loss at the hands of the Montana State Bobcats (3-1) on Saturday evening at Strahan Arena.
Texas State was led in scoring by senior guard Toshua Leavitt for the third game in three tries this season. She scored 19 points, giving her double-figure scoring in 10-straight ballgames dating back to last season. Leavitt connected on 4-of-11 3-point tries running her tally of consecutive games with multiple made 3-point field goals to 22 games. Sophomore forward Jayla Johnson tallied double-figures for the second time in as many games. She scored 10 points and grabbed three rebounds off the bench.
Senior forward Claire Lundberg turned in a perfect box score to lead Montana State. She converted all eight of her shots from the floor, including a 4-for-4 effort from behind the 3-point arc and was a tidy 6-for-6 from the free throw line. In total, she tallied a career-high 26 points and hauled in six rebounds. Junior forward Martha Kuderer also turned in a career night, posting a career-best 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting.
For the second-straight game, Texas State fell behind quickly. Against Nicholls, the Bobcats were able to claw back into the game and outlast the Colonels in the fourth quarter. Montana State would not succumb to the same fate.
Two extended runs in the second half defined the contest. Texas State trailed by a score of 35-25 heading into the halftime break and fell behind 41-30 with 7:20 remaining in the third frame. Junior guard Bailey Holle ignited a furious comeback effort with an old-fashioned three-point play. Freshman guard Kennedy Taylor connected on a 3-pointer from the top of the key before a three-point play from Leavitt brought the Cats within one possession at 43-40 with 3:06 left in the third. Johnson cashed in a steal from junior guard Brooke Holle to trim the lead down to one prior to an MSU timeout.
Following the timeout, Leavitt gave TXST a lead for the first time in the half with a deep 3-pointer. She capped off the 17-2 extended run with a jump shot to end the third quarter. Behind a vaunted press defense that forced nine MSU turnovers in the third quarter alone, TXST outscored the visitor 22-8 in the opening frame of the second half to carry a four-point lead into the final stanza.
Unfortunately, TXST ran out of steam in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats of Montana State were able to mount a 14-0 run of their own to pull away from the home squad. For the second time in as many nights, Montana State survived a huge comeback attempt to escape with a victory.
Up next, Texas State will hit the road to take on archrival UTSA at 7 p.m. on Nov. 20 from the UTSA Convocation Center in San Antonio.
Pearson Moves Up to 21st in Career Points at Drake
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Junior Nijal Pearson scored a game-high 19 points to move up to 21st on the Texas State men’s basketball scoring list Saturday afternoon. The Bobcats (2-1) fell in a battle to Drake (2-1) 75-69 in the Knapp Center.
Pearson finished 7-of-15 from the field with two made three-pointers and was 3-for-4 at the free throw line. The junior also had three rebounds, two steals and one assist.
“It was a disappointing loss in that we did not come out and play with the energy and intensity that we had done in the first two games,” said head coach Danny Kaspar. “If we are going to be a good basketball team we have to overcome adversity and come play 40 minutes.”
Drake maintained a lead from the onset until Pearson knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing to knot the score at 7-7 with 16:01 left in the opening half. The triple was the 100th made in the Beaumont, Texas native’s career.
TXST was able to tie the game up twice more with last being at 13-13 following a jumper by Mason Harrell at the 10:27 mark. The Bulldogs would then go on a 16-5 run over the next 5:25. Pearson ended the run with a trey from the top of the key.
Hot shooting by Drake allowed it to take a 44-30 advantage into the halftime break. The hosts connected on 57.1 percent of their shots and were 7-of-10 at the free throw line while the Bobcats converted 43.3 percent from the field and only attempted three free throws.
The Bulldogs scored the first five points of the second half to stretch their lead to 19. Alex Peacock grabbed an offensive board and put it back in for the first points of the period for the Bobcats. TXST would force four steals over the next five Drake positions and counting Peacock’s layup go on a 12-0 run to cut the deficit to 49-42 to force a Bulldog timeout with 14:42 on the clock.
With 7:31 left on the clock, Jaylen Shead was able to beat the shot clock and get a layup to fall to make it a six-point contest. Back-to-back buckets by Chandler Davis followed by a slam courtesy of Peacock brought the Bobcats to within 65-63 with just under five minutes to play.
Drake extended its lead to seven before Tre’Larenz Nottingham knocked down his second three-pointer of the game. Two free throws by Pearson with 57.3 left on the clock pulled the Bobcats to within two.
The Bulldogs were able to break the press after the charity stripe attempts and get an old-fashion three-point play. After trading free throws, Nottingham fired up a triple that rattled in and out that would have made it a one possession game.
Both Davis and Nottingham ended the contest with 10 points with Davis going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field. Peacock just missed a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds. He also set a career-high with four steals.
As a team, Texas State recorded 13 steals led by Peacock. Both Jaylen Shead and Nottingham recorded three steals apiece.
TXST was 28-of-61 from the field with only five treys. The Bobcats did hold a slight edge in rebounding (32-31) with 12 of the team’s total coming on the offensive end.
“We have to play better defense. We gave up too much penetration and didn’t rotate on the penetration” Kaspar said. “We also showed selfishness in some of our shot selection and have to think more about winning as a team.”
Next for Texas State is the remaining three games of the Portland Classic beginning on Wednesday with a 6:30 p.m. CST contest versus Cal Poly.
For more information on the Texas State men’s basketball team, visit the official website of Texas State Athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com.
The remainder of the Portland Classic is slated for Nov. 21-24 in Portland, Ore. The Bobcats will face Cal Poly, USC Upstate and Portland across the four-day window.
Volleyball advances to Sun Belt Championship finals
Texas State knocks off Little Rock 3-1, freshmen shine in postseason debut
ATLANTA – The Texas State volleyball team defeated Little Rock 3-1 (25-18, 25-21, 24-26, 25-23) in the semifinals of the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championship Saturday night inside GSU Sports Arena.
The top-seeded Bobcats (25-6) reached the finals for the second year in a row and will face No. 2 Appalachian State at noon Nov. 18 for the tournament title. The Trojans (19-12) fell just short of reaching the 20-win margin for the first time since 2014.
The maroon and gold were led by a pair of true freshmen in Janell Fitzgerald and Emily DeWalt. Fitzgerald tallied 18 kills and a career-high six blocks, while DeWalt tallied 46 assists and 10 digs for her Sun Belt-leading 20th double-double of the season. Junior Micah Dinwiddie led the back row with 21 digs, while adding seven assists. Senior Madison Daigle (15) and junior Cheyenne Huskey (14) combined for 29 kills.
Veronica Marin led LR with 14 kills, but the nation’s leading blocker finished with just two. Taylor Lindberg tallied 28 assists and 10 kills, and Pamela Zuluaga added 22 assists for the Trojans. Diana Giordani finished with 18 digs, and Mya Robinson had 11 kills.
Texas State led the match in kills (66-57), attack percentage (.327-.243), assists (62-53), and blocks (11-6). Little Rock led in digs (55-54), and both teams finished with three service aces.
SET 1
The Bobcats captured the opening period by a decisive 25-18 margin, but the scoreline was a bit deceiving as the frame was level on eight different occasions. Neither side led by more than two until the final tie at 18-18, but the maroon and gold finished on a commanding 7-0 run thanks in large part to dominant serving from Dinwiddie.
SET 2
Texas State entered the locker room leading 2-0 after claiming the second frame 25-21. The Bobcats led for the majority of the period, holding at least a one-point advantage the entire set after going ahead 6-5. Texas State’s largest lead initially was four points at 11-7, but the Trojans were able to stay within striking distance. TXST needed one final surge to take a 22-17 lead, and the team was able to polish off the set from there.
SET 3
Little Rock fought back from an early 11-3 hole to win the third 26-24 and send the match to a fourth set. The Trojans scored eight-straight points to quickly climb out of their largest deficit of the night and there were 11 ties from that point on. Texas State peaked ahead at 22-20, but LR scored six of the next eight points to snatch the frame and – at least for the moment – deny the Bobcats a chance to advance to Sunday’s championship match.
SET 4
Little Rock carried the momentum into the fourth and initially took an 8-5 advantage. Texas State came back to tie the period at 10-10 and swung ahead 17-14. The maroon and gold went ahead 20-15 and later found a 24-19 advantage. The Trojans fended off four match points, but Daigle lined up an emphatic kill on the fifth attempt to shut the door on the evening.
Texas State was able to knock off Little Rock for the third time this year. The Bobcats improved to 9-5 all-time over the Trojans and earned their first win over LR in the postseason (1-1).
TXST also improved to 9-4 all-time in the Sun Belt Championship and is now 6-0 in the team’s opening match in the event.
Texas State is 5-3 all-time against Appalachian State and defeated the Mountaineers 3-0 in San Marcos on Oct. 12. App State is 1-0 all-time against TXST in the conference tournament, with the lone meeting between the two sides coming in the 2015 semifinals.
Nine Join 2019 Soccer Signing Class
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Coming off the program’s first-ever Sun Belt Conference regular season championship, Texas State soccer head coach Kat Conner announced the addition of nine new players to the roster for the 2019 season. The class consists of three forwards, four midfielders, one defender and one goalkeeper.
Joining the Bobcats will be Haley Benson, Ainsley Forbes, Madison Humphrey, Bailey Peschel, Lindsey Salisbury, Mandy Schneider, Avery Theis, Karlee Torisk and Kamaria Williams.
“This incoming freshman class is vastly talented,” said Conner. “These players will help us fill areas of weakness and build areas of strength. Most of all, I love their work ethic and competitive spirit!”
“The coaching staff and their future teammates anticipate that every one of these new players will come in and bring the driven, committed and productive mentality that earned them roster spots. I have no doubt they will exceed expectations and be major contributors to our next championship run in Fall 2019.”
Haley Benson | Houston, Texas | Cypress Creek HS
Benson is a 5-foot, 6-inch goalkeeper that will graduate from Cypress Creek High School in Houston. The three-time team captain was a First Team All-District 17-6A selection as a junior and was picked to the second team her sophomore season.
In 2018, Benson finished third in the nation in saves with 332 on her way to averaging 15.2 per match. She finished the season with a .883 save percentage and four shutouts for the Cougars. Her performance earned her the team’s MVP honors.
On the club level, Benson plays for Challenge SC.
Conner on Benson: “Haley is a highly competitive and very athletic goalkeeper. We will be counting on her to continue the goalkeeping tradition of being a vocal leader in the back while helping us shutout opponents.”
Ainsley Forbes | Cedar Park, Texas | Cedar Park HS
A 5-foot, 3-inch forward and midfielder, Forbes is a four-year letterman and starter for Cedar Park High School. In 2018 she helped lead the Timberwolves to the UIL 5A Region 3 semifinals, a 17-6-3 record and 13-2-1 mark in District 19-5A.
Her sophomore year saw her be named to the All-District 19-5A second team. The soon to be Bobcat has also been an academic all-district selection and serves as team captain.
Forbes was also on the basketball team and ran track. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society and takes part in Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Conner on Forbes: “Ainsley comes to us with a well-developed sense of game pace. She is skilled at going at defenders and successfully creates scoring opportunities. Ainsley will excel at the outside midfield position.”
Madison Humphrey | Red Oak, Texas | Red Oak HS
Humphrey arrives to San Marcos from Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas. This past season she recorded 19 goals and 14 assists. In the regular season finale, she netted a hat trick and also assisted on three scores. It was her third match of the year with three assists.
The soon to be Bobcat helped the Hawks claim the 2016 District 14-5A title with a 12-1-3 record and were 15-2-4 overall. That season saw her be named to the all-district second team. In 2017, Humphrey was selected to the All-District 10-5A First Team.
Conner on Humphrey: “Madison has the innate ability to know where to be in order to score. She is a finesse player with the technical skill to drive at her opponent and finish with a goal. Madison definitely is a force to be reckoned with.”
Bailey Peschel | Cypress, Texas | Cypress Woods HS
Peschel will arrive in San Marcos from Cypress Woods High School in Cypress, Texas. She is a 5-foot, 5-inch forward and midfielder that helped lead the Wildcats to a 13-0 district record in the springs. This past season saw her record 12 goals and 15 assists on her way to being named the All-District 17-6A First Team. The soon to be Bobcat was also an all-district second team and honorable mention selections as a sophomore and freshman, respectively.
Since her freshman year, Peschel has been a starter on the varsity team while earning academic all-district honors each season. So far in her career on the pitch she has netted 28 goals and been credited with 24 assists. This upcoming season in the spring of 2019 will see her serve as team captain.
Peschel also competes on the Cypress Woods cross country team. She picked up All-District 17-6A second team honors as a freshman and sophomore and was an all-district academic first team honoree.
Competing for Dynamos SC, she led the team in goals in 2018. That season also saw the squad reach the US Club Soccer National Finals that were held in Aurora, Colorado.
Conner on Peschel: “Bailey is an extremely versatile player, skilled in the forward and midfield positions. She is quick on both sides of the ball and that versatility, combined with her athleticism, will create significant challenges for opponents.”
Lindsey Salisbury | Pflugerville, Texas | Pflugerville HS
Salisbury will arrive in San Macros from Pflugerville High School. She helped lead the Panthers to a 14-9-2 overall record and qualify for the UIL 6A playoffs. Her performance on the field saw her be named to the All-District 13-6A second team. She also was an all-district honorable mention selection as a freshman.
The 5-foot, 9-inch midfielder was selected for the Olympic Development Program team four year in a row and made the regional tryouts her third year.
At school, Salisbury is also an AP Ambassador and member of the National Honor Society. She also volunteers to feed the homeless once a month at local churches.
Conner on Salisbury: “One of Lindsey’s many talents is her ability to accurately read the game and know how to respond. She has the skill to execute what she reads, which will be an enormous asset in the midfield.”
Mandy Schneider | Mansfield, Texas | Mansfield HS
A 5-foot, 8-inch midfielder, Schneider will graduate this spring form Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas. She helped the Tigers claim a share of the 2018 District 4-6A at 13-1-0. Overall, Mansfield HS went 23-3-0 and reached the UIL 6A Region 1 semifinals.
Conner on Schneider: “Mandy has a lot of energy and raw talent. Her keen understanding of the game, combined with her intensity and athleticism will make Mandy an outstanding defender for us.”
Avery Theis | Forth Worth, Texas | Timber Creek HS
Theis will come to Texas State after graduating from Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth, Texas. The 5-foot, 9-inch defensive back was a Texas Association of Soccer Coaches All-Region 1-6A Second Team pick as a sophomore. That season also saw the future Bobcat named to the All-District 3-6A First Team. Her freshman year saw her be named the District 5-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year.
Last season saw Theis help the Falcons go 15-4-4 overall and finish second in District 3-6A with a 10-2-0 record. The team reached the UIL 6A Region 1 Area Finals before seeing their season come to an end. She was part of a backline that recorded 11 shutouts for the season.
Theis plays club soccer for Solar SC Development Academy. This past summer saw her and the team reach the quarterfinals at the national tournament held in Oceanside, California.
Conner on Theis: “Avery is tough to beat. She’s a quick and smart defender who has the ability to not only stop plays but to then generate the rapid counter attacks that will elevate our transition game.”
Karlee Torisk | Forth Worth, Texas | Boswell HS
Torisk is a 5-foot, 4-inch midfielder and defender. She will arrive at TXST after graduating from Boswell High School in Fort Worth. Her freshman season saw her be selected as the District 5-5A Newcomer of the Year and to the all-district second team.
The future Bobcat competed at the club level with the Dallas Texans Development Academy team and Solar SC.
Conner on Torisk: “Karlee has an incredible work rate. She’s a player who just never stops pushing. Karlee’s highly driven nature will be an excellent addition to our culture of grit and determination.
Kamaria Williams | Mansfield, Texas | Lake Ridge HS
Williams will graduate in the spring from Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas. She was an All-District 10-5A First Team pick both her junior and sophomore seasons. This past year also saw her be named to the all-district academic team. As a freshman, she was selected as the Eagles’ Offensive MVP.
The 5-foot, 3-inch forward and defender is on the school’s student athletic leadership council and prom committee. She also volunteers her time at the Ronald McDonald House and at local food pantries.
Conner on Williams: “Kamaria has an amazing find for us through our ID soccer camp. She has a sophisticated understanding of the game and the versatility to fill several different needs. Kamaria is a fierce competitor who will add dimension and depth to our roster.”
Bobcats top former Southland rival Nicholls, 72-67
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State women’s basketball team (1-1) defeated former Southland Conference foe Nicholls (0-3) by a count of 72-67 for the program’s first win of the season Friday evening at Strahan Arena.
Senior guard Toshua Leavitt was one of three Bobcats to enter the box score in double-figures. She led the Cats with 20 points, four rebounds and three assists. She connected on 6-of-12 shots from behind the 3-point line, marking the 11th time in her storied career that she has made at least six triples in a single game. On her second made 3-point field goal of the game, Leavitt slid into possession of second-place on the all-time Sun Belt Conference career 3-point record book. Now at 262 career makes, she trails Leslie Logsdon (Western Kentucky, ’05) by just 16 for the all-time conference mark.
Junior guard Brooke Holle added 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds to the Bobcat line. She was 3-of-5 from behind the arc and did not miss in six chances from the charity stripe. Sophomore Jayla Johnson chipped in a career-best 12 points in 18 minutes off the bench. Her hustle and effort plays impacted the game on both ends of the floor for the Bobcats.
For the Colonels, senior guard Cassidy Barrios led the way with a double-double. The SLC preseason player of the year scored 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting and ripped down 11 boards. Sophomore guard Destiny Collins totaled 13 points in the loss.
Nicholls jumped on the Bobcats early in the contest and led by seven points as time wound down at the end of the first quarter. With 39 ticks left on the clock, Br. Holle drained a 3-pointer off an assist from Leavitt to cut the deficit to four points after 10 minutes of play.
Once again, Nicholls threw the first body blow of the second quarter, pouncing out to a 28-20 lead with 3:59 remaining in the first half. TXST was up to the task again, scoring nine of the final 12 points of the half to narrow the halftime score to 31-29.
The third quarter was a test of wills. The lead changed hands eight times and the teams were knotted five times. TXST continued to mount the comeback and trailed by a single point heading into the fourth and final frame.
After freshmen guards Kennedy Taylor and Ja’Kayla Bowie opened the fourth with TXST’s first six points, Leavitt buried a deep 3-pointer to seize a four-point advantage. The Cats would not relinquish the lead despite a valiant effort from the Colonels. The lead shrunk to two points on a couple occasions but never closer. TXST held on for the 72-67 victory.
Up next, Texas State will face Montana State (2-1) in the second round of the preseason WNIT consolation bracket. The showdown between the two Bobcats will tip at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Strahan Arena.
Bobcats top former Southland rival Nicholls, 72-67
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State women’s basketball team (1-1) defeated former Southland Conference foe Nicholls (0-3) by a count of 72-67 for the program’s first win of the season Friday evening at Strahan Arena.
Senior guard Toshua Leavitt was one of three Bobcats to enter the box score in double-figures. She led the Cats with 20 points, four rebounds and three assists. She connected on 6-of-12 shots from behind the 3-point line, marking the 11th time in her storied career that she has made at least six triples in a single game. On her second made 3-point field goal of the game, Leavitt slid into possession of second-place on the all-time Sun Belt Conference career 3-point record book. Now at 262 career makes, she trails Leslie Logsdon (Western Kentucky, ’05) by just 16 for the all-time conference mark.
Junior guard Brooke Holle added 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds to the Bobcat line. She was 3-of-5 from behind the arc and did not miss in six chances from the charity stripe. Sophomore Jayla Johnson chipped in a career-best 12 points in 18 minutes off the bench. Her hustle and effort plays impacted the game on both ends of the floor for the Bobcats.
For the Colonels, senior guard Cassidy Barrios led the way with a double-double. The SLC preseason player of the year scored 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting and ripped down 11 boards. Sophomore guard Destiny Collins totaled 13 points in the loss.
Nicholls jumped on the Bobcats early in the contest and led by seven points as time wound down at the end of the first quarter. With 39 ticks left on the clock, Br. Holle drained a 3-pointer off an assist from Leavitt to cut the deficit to four points after 10 minutes of play.
Once again, Nicholls threw the first body blow of the second quarter, pouncing out to a 28-20 lead with 3:59 remaining in the first half. TXST was up to the task again, scoring nine of the final 12 points of the half to narrow the halftime score to 31-29.
The third quarter was a test of wills. The lead changed hands eight times and the teams were knotted five times. TXST continued to mount the comeback and trailed by a single point heading into the fourth and final frame.
After freshmen guards Kennedy Taylor and Ja’Kayla Bowie opened the fourth with TXST’s first six points, Leavitt buried a deep 3-pointer to seize a four-point advantage. The Cats would not relinquish the lead despite a valiant effort from the Colonels. The lead shrunk to two points on a couple occasions but never closer. TXST held on for the 72-67 victory.
Up next, Texas State will face Montana State (2-1) in the second round of the preseason WNIT consolation bracket. The showdown between the two Bobcats will tip at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Strahan Arena.
Women’s basketball locks in three in early signing period
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State women’s basketball head coach Zenarae Antoine announced Thursday three additions to the 2019-20 recruiting class.
“It is always a GREAT DAY TO BE A BOBCAT when we are able to add student-athletes to the landscape of Texas State University,” Coach Antoine said.
Chelsea Johnson
Keithville, La. / Loyola College Prep
Forward
Johnson comes to Texas State by way for Loyola College Prep in Shreveport, La. Under the guidance of head coach Kyle Tanner, she helped guide the Flyers to a 30-3 record in 2017-18. Following the season, Johnson was honored as a first team all-district selection, district MVP, first team all-city and second team all-state. Johnson compiled 16 points and 11 rebounds per outing as a junior. She competes for the Louisiana Lightning in the AAU circuit. The Lightning won the 2017 State AAU Championship and finished as runners-up in 2018. Off the court, Johnson is a Student Ambassador and a member of the Student Advisory Council. She has been awarded the Daughter of the American Revolution Award and the President’s Education Award for outstanding academic achievement. She is the daughter of Kenny Johnson and Danyale Dallas. She is the youngest of four children, including an older sister and two older brothers.
Louisiana Lightning coach Kenny Carswell on Johnson: While Chelsea has proven to be an outstanding player on the court, she is also an excellent student in the classroom. She has been a member of numerous championship teams within our organization and has played an integral part in our success, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. One of her strongest qualities is that she is a very conscientious person. Once given a task, she takes ownership and sees it through from the beginning to the end.
Antoine on Johnson: When faculty, fans and alumni meet Chelsea they will immediately appreciate the energy and enthusiasm that she brings to our program. Athletically, she has the ability to dominate in the paint. In the classroom, she brings the same work ethic as well. This is evident by her academic achievements. We are happy that Chelsea and her family are officially part of our Bobcat Family.
Keslyn King
Burleson, Texas / Mansfield Legacy High School
Guard
King becomes a Bobcat by way of Mansfield Legacy High School in Burleson, Texas. She has twice been named to the all-district team, including a first team nod in 2018. Also, in 2018 King was named the team’s offensive and defensive player of the year, as well as being named a team captain. She averaged 14 points and five rebounds per game. She plays for the Elite All-Stars in the AAU ranks and was selected to play in the Under Armour All-America game in Kentucky. King excelled in volleyball during her time as a Bronco, racking up two more all-district honors. She has earned six academic all-district honors between the two sports. Of the court, King volunteers at Mansfield Medical Lodge Nursing Home and will receive her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate. She is the daughter of Michelle Morris, her high school basketball coach.
Elite Lady All Stars coach George Mitchell on King: We are extremely excited and proud that our hardest working player in 27 years is signing with Texas State. As the head coach and president of Elite All Stars, I have not had the privilege of coaching a better player who totally embodies what a team leader and dominating player. Keslyn is very coachable and I hope we can find players to replace her. She will truly be missed.
Antoine on King: Keslyn is the definition of ENERGY BUS. She is not only a talented basketball player, but she is a great all-around multi-sport athlete. As a “coach’s kid” she has a clear understanding of what is takes to be a high achieving student-athlete. Kelsyn should have an immediate impact on the floor for our team. Her aggressiveness on the floor, specifically on defense, is needed and welcomed. Like many of the women in our program she is bringing academic achievement as well as athletic abilities. Coach Morris, her mother, and Kelsyn have been a part of the Bobcat family from the time they stepped on campus and we are excited about the future.
Jessica Paz Y Puente
San Antonio, Texas / Tom C. Clark High School
Guard
Paz Y Puente hails from Tom C. Clark High School in San Antonio and plays for Rihana Nouy. The Cougars have won Bi-District titles in 2016 and 2018, while being area champions and regional finalists in 2018. Paz Y Puente was named first team all-district and TABC all-region in 2017-18 after registering 14 points and eight assists per contest. She won the 3-point contest at the NBA America’s team camp and competed for Mexico in the FIBA U-18 Women’s America Cup. In the AAU circuit, she plays for San Antonio’s Finest. She has been academic all-district each of the previous three seasons and is a member of the National Honor Society. Paz Y Puente volunteers at Haven for Hope, Sock it to Cancer and the Start Center for Cancer Cure. She is the daughter of Manuel and Lizy Paz Y Puente. She has two older brothers.
San Antonio’s Finest coach Ray Caldwell on Paz Y Puente: Jessie is by far the most popular player with her teammates that I have ever coached. Her willingness to share the ball and make those around her better are skills that translate to the next level. Jessie is a gamer, always willing to step up in crucial moments. She has truly been a joy to coach.
Antoine on Paz Y Puente: Jessie is a young woman who truly loves the game of basketball, it is in her blood. She is the daughter of a former Texas State student-athlete and one of her brothers plays professionally in Mexico. Jessie can stretch the floor with her shooting ability, but it is her court vision that makes her a great fit for our floor needs.
In addition to her scholastic efforts, playing with San Antonio’s Finest and the Mexican National Team has only enhanced her game. I look forward to seeing how she will develop. Jessie has a warm and loving family that supports her in the classroom and on the floor and they are genuine and welcome additions to our Bobcat Family. ¡Es un GRAN DÍA PARA SER UN BOBCAT!
Baseball Inks 11 to NLIs
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State baseball head coach Ty Harrington announced the signing of 11 high school seniors and junior college transfers to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period.
The new Bobcats are Gabriel Briski, Brett Brown, Jacob Millender, Caleb Munton, Isaac Ponce, Cade Sitka, Tristan Stivors, Trevis Sundgren, Casey Sunseri, Justin Thompson and Hayden VanderRoest. All of them call the state of Texas home.
“I would like to congratulate assistant coaches Steven Trout and Chad Massengale in signing a very athletic and competitive recruiting class,” said Harrington. “The future of Bobcat baseball looks incredibly bright with the addition of not only the right athletes but also the right people.”
Gabriel Briski – OF – 6-3, 210
Keller, Texas / Keller HS
Briski helped Keller High School to a 25-7 record, took home the District 3-6A title with a 10-2 record and reached the UIL 6A Region 1 quarterfinals. He hit .376, drove in 20 runs and drew 15 walks.
Trout on Briski: “Gabe is a big, physical left-handed hitter. He constantly finds a way to barrel up baseballs and with authority. He has a chance to really hit in out ballpark.”
Brett Brown – RHP – 6-3, 185
Sinton, Texas / Sinton HS
Brown is coming off a junior season in which he struck out 68 and recorded a 1.57 ERA in 53.2 inning over 11 games for Sinton High School. At the plate, the future Bobcat batted .345 with a .424 OBP, 19 RBI and 20 runs. He was part of a team that went 17-10 on the year and reached the UIL 4A Region 4 Area finals. His performance earned him District 31-4A Junior MVP honors.
As a sophomore, Brown posted a 0.78 ERA with 55 strikeouts to 17 walks in 36 innings in seven appearances. He added a .347 average with 13 RBI at the dish to earn the District 31-4A Sophomore MVP accolade.
Brown was named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A All-State Third Team, earned Collin Street Bakery TSWA Class 4A All-State honorable mention and selected to the All-District 31-4A Second Team as a freshman. That season saw him make four appearance on the mound, totaling six frames with six strikeouts. He did his damage at the plate with a .452 average, .510 OBP and .559 SLG while driving in 19 runs and scoring 18 times. That year the Pirates finished 24-11-1 and reached the UIL 4A Region 4 semifinals.
In the classroom, Brown is a member of the National Honor Society and is part of Sinton’s Student Council. This year he is serving as the Senior Student Council President.
Trout on Brown: “Brett has a ton of upside with a large frame and a big arm. He has played in the state tournament before and that experience is huge. He has a chance to develop into a power pitcher and have a big impact for us.”
Jacob Millender – RHP – 6-5, 220
Houston, Texas / Lamar HS / Blinn College
Millender signed with TXST out of Blinn College. His freshman season with the Buccaneers saw him go 5-1 with a 3.39 ERA and 65 strikeouts. He tossed 61 innings in 14 appearances. His best performance of the season came at San Jacinto College-North when he went 7.2 strong innings, struck out 12 and allowed only four hits in the 4-2 victory.
For his accomplishments on the mound, Millender was selected to the all-conference team. In September, he participated in the Texas/New Mexico Junior College Coaches Association All-Star game.
A graduate of Lamar High School, Millender earned All-Region 3-6A honors, All-District 18-6A First Team and was named Pitcher of the Year. He was a three-time second team all-district selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior. The 6-foot, 5-inch right-hander helped Lamar HS to the fourth round of the playoffs in 2015 and the third round in 2016 and 2017.
Trout on Millender: “Jacob has a big right arm with unreal command. He only walked seven guys in an entire year of JUCO baseball which is unheard of. He has a lot of upside on the mound and we are excited to watch him win a lot of games for us.”
Caleb Munton – C – 6-0, 210
Abilene, Texas / Wylie HS
Munton is a switch hitting catcher from Wylie High School in Abilene, Texas this spring. He is coming off a junior season in which he hit .426 with four home runs and 31 RBI. The Bulldogs ended the season in the UIL 4A Region 1 quarterfinals with a 22-5-1 record and claimed the District 5-4A crown.
The future Bobcat was a part of back-to-back UIL 4A State Champions in 2017 and 2016. The 2017 team finished 36-1 and finished No. 2 in the nation in the MaxPreps.com Rankings and No. 25 in the Xcellent 25 Writers’ Poll. That season saw Munton be named the District 5-4A Newcomer of the Year and to the UIL 4A All-Tournament First Team.
Trout on Munton: “Caleb is a switch-hitting, power-hitting catcher that has won two state championships. He knows how to win and win big. That is valuable, especially behind the plate. He has a chance to hit for a lot of power on both sides of the plate in Bobcat Ballpark.”
Isaac Ponce – RHP – 5-10, 185
Portland, Texas / Gregory-Portland HS
Ponce will arrive in San Marcos after graduating from Gregory-Portland High School. This past season he was selected as the All-District 29-5A Second Team. Along with being a first team all-district selection as a sophomore, the future Bobcat was also an All-South Texas Third Team pick and named to the All-South Texas Hooks Preseason All-Star Team.
Trout on Pounce: “Isaac is a right handed pitcher that can really sink the baseball along with having a plus slider. He has a chance to get a ton of ground ball outs for us and eat up a ton of innings. Guys with Isaac’s similar stuff have had a ton of success for Texas State.”
Cade Sitka – C/3B/RHP – 5-11, 175
Richmond, Texas / Foster HS
Sitka enters his fourth season on the baseball team at Foster High School. Last season, he helped the Falcons go 26-7-1 to claim the District 27-5A, Bi-District and Area championships. Coached by Mick Tosch, Sitka is a three-time All-District 27-5A honoree. He was a first teamer as a freshman at third base and his junior season as a utility player while making the second team as a catcher as a sophomore. All three seasons has seen him be selected to the Academic All-District team.
In 2018, Sitka hit .398 with a .555 on-base percentage and 1.350 OPS. He hit seven home runs, 10 doubles and two triples. In a game against Klein Oak High School he tossed a no-hitter.
Sitka enters his senior season with a career batting average of .372, a .519 OBP, .691 slugging percentage and 1.260 OPS. The future Bobcat has also hit 13 home runs, 20 doubles and three triples.
Trout on Sitka: “Cade is a two-way player that can play multiple positions and has a ton of juice in the bat. He will bring some power to our lineup. On the mound, he really knows how to pitch and get outs. He has a strong arm and will have a chance to help us win a lot of games.”
Tristan Stivors – RHP/OF – 6-4, 200
Castroville, Texas / Medina Valley HS / New Mexico JC
Stivors will arrive in San Marcos after wrapping up his second season this spring at New Mexico Junior College. He helped lead the Thunderbirds to a 40-17 record and claimed the Western Junior College Athletic Conference championship with a 27-9 record. In September he was selected to play in the Texas/New Mexico Junior College All-Star weekend.
The Castroville, Texas native appeared in 11 games and started five on the mound where he finished with a 5-0 record with one save, 5.44 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 41.1 innings in 2018. His performance on the hill earned him NJCAA Region 5 West honorable mention honors. In his final action of the season, he struck out eight and held Howard College to four hits in six innings in the regular season to claim the conference title.
In limited action at the plate, he was 3-for-10 with three runs scored, hit one triple, one home run and recorded four RBI.
A three-year letterwinner at Medina Valley High School, Stivors was twice named First Team All-District 28-5A and once to the second team. As a senior, he was named the Panthers’ MVP in which he amongst the strikeout leaders in Texas 5A baseball. His performance on the field in 2016 earned him invites to play in the both the Texas Select All-Star Showcase and San Antonio High School All-Star Game.
Stivors was also a standout on the gridiron and in track and field. He was a three-time all-district selection and played in the San Antonio High School All-Star Football Game while competing as a running back and linebacker. In track, he was an area qualifier in the discus, triple jump, 110m hurdles and 300 hurdles.
In the classroom, Stivors received the Academic Excellence Award all four years and was an Academic All-State selection in football. He was also a member of the Future Farmers of America, National Honor Society and Peers for a Positive Change.
Trout on Stivors: “Tristan is a two-way player with power form both the pitching and hitting sides. He has a big arm that has run it up into the mid-90s. He will have a chance to help us on the mound and at the plate in 2020.”
Trevis Sundgren – RHP – 5-10, 185
Silsbee, Texas / Silsbee HS / Houston / Weatherford JC
Sundgren will have two years of eligibility remaining after spending the 2019 season at Weatherford Junior College. Last season he played at Houston where he made five appearances out of the bullpen and tossed 2.1 innings with a strikeout.
A graduate of Silsbee High School, Sundgren was a two-time All-State Pitcher, named Pitcher of the Year twice and earned First Team All-District 22-4A.
Trout on Sundgren: “Trevis is a complete pitcher with a really quick arm. He has a plus off-speed pitch to go with a big league fastball. He has experience at the D1 level before and he will be fun to watch in the maroon and gold.”
Casey Sunseri – UTL – 6-0, 190
The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands HS
Sunseri will letter four years at The Woodlands High School on the diamond. His junior campaign ended with him batting .423 with a .464 OBP and .503 SLG. He recorded 23 RBI and scored 30 times as he helped the Highlanders go 25-16-1 and reach the UIL 6A State semifinals. After the season he was named to the Collin Street Bakery TSWA Class 6A All-State Third Team.
His performance in 2018 saw him be named Perfect Game Preseason All-American High Honorable Mention for the 2019 season.
Sunseri also plays quarterback and has helped The Woodlands go 7-3 this season and share the District 15-6A title with a 7-1 record. He has completed 72-of-117 passes for 809 yards and nine touchdowns. The Highlanders open the UIL 6A DI playoffs on Friday.
Trout on Sunseri: “Casey can literally play almost every position on the field. He can really hit as he lead his team to a state tournament appearance last year. He will collect a lot of hits in his Bobcat career.”
Justin Thompson – INF – 6-0, 200
Frisco, Texas / Wakeland HS / Weatherford College
Thompson signed out of Weatherford College and will have two years of eligibility remaining. His freshman season saw him hit .326 with a .429 OBP and .511 slugging percentage. He smashed four home runs, 17 doubles and two triples while driving in 46 runs and scoring 49 times.
In 2017, Thompson graduated from Wakeland High School in Frisco, Texas. His senior season saw him bat .411 with a .465 OBP, four homers, 28 RBI and 25 runs scored. He helped the Wolverines to a 38-5-1 record, finish 23rd in the nation in the Xcellent 25 Writers’ Poll and advance to the UIL 5A State semifinals. That year also saw him be named to the THSBCA Class 5A All-State Third Team, Collin Street Bakery TSWA Class 5A All-State Honorable Mention, UIL 5A All-Tournament Team and District 13-5A Defensive MVP. He was selected to play for the North Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Team as well.
Thompson hit .386 with a .463 OBP and .652 SLG in his prep career. He also recorded eight home runs, 27 doubles, drove in 53 runs and came around to score 80 times. The future TXST player was a 2016 All-District 13-5A First Team honoree and the district’s Defensive MVP. He also picked up all-district second team accolades in 2015.
Trout on Thompson: “JT is a guy that can hit for average and power, and has done so at multiple levels. He can play multiple infield positions and should be an impact bat for us. He played in the state tournament as well during his senior year in high school.”
Hayden VanderRoest – RHP/INF – 6-0, 190
Shallowater, Texas / Shallowater HS
VanderRoest will arrive in San Marcos competing for playing time on the rubber and in the middle of the infield. He helped lead Shallowater High School to a 28-4-2 record, win the District 2-3A championship with a 10-0 mark and reach the UIL 3A Region 1 semifinals. The 6-foot right-hander hit .484 with eight homers and 53 RBI on his way to being named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Second Team, the Collin Street Bakery TSWA Class 3A All-State honorable mention squad and District MVP.
As a sophomore, VanderRoest was an All-District 2-3A First Team selection at shortstop. That season the Mustangs went 21-4-1, 10-0 in district play to claim the championship and advance to the UIL 3A Region 1 Area finals.
The future Bobcat is also a member of the football, power lifting and track teams. On the gridiron, he has twice been an all-district honoree with a selection at both defensive end and wide receiver. VanderRoest is also a student council member and part of the robotics team.
Trout on VanderRoest: “Hayden has a very developed right-handed arm that has been up to 93. He is also a linebacker on his football team, so any time you have the linebacker mentality on the mound is a good thing. We are excited for his future with us.”
Up Next For The Bobcats
Texas State enters its 51st season of women’s basketball and season eight under the guidance of head coach Zenarae Antoine. She has compiled a career record of 111-110 at Texas State and is the fourth women’s basketball coach in program history to notch 100-plus career wins as a Bobcat.
Senior guard Toshua Leavitt, a preseason Sun Belt Conference first team selection, scored a team-best 18 points in the season-opening loss at New Mexico. After making two 3-point field goals in the game, Leavitt has now compiled 256 career made 3-pointers. That number ties her with Kortni Jones of Middle Tennessee (2009-12) for the third most triples made in a career. She is one made 3-pointer away from moving into a tie for second and is 22 makes away from the leader, Leslie Logsdon. The Western Kentucky (2001-05) graduate canned a conference-record 278 3-point field goals.
SCOUTING DELAWARE
The Blue Hens (0-1) enter the weekend off a hard-fought loss at Northern Iowa in the opening round of the Preseason WNIT. Four players for UD finished the game with double-figure scoring outputs in the 79-67 road loss.
Freshman Jasmine Dickey posted a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds, both team-highs. She was honored by the Colonial Athletic Association as the league’s Rooke of the Week. Her 21 points were the most points scored in a season opener for the Blue Hens since WNBA superstar Elena Delle Donne collected 33 against Rhode Island to open the 2011 campaign.
Junior Samon DeFreese, a Preseason All-CAA Second Team honoree, added 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and six rebounds. Junior Abby Gonzales chipped in 12 points, while freshman Paris McBride tallied 10 points and a team-best three assists.
SCOUTING MONTANA STATE
The other team in the weekend pod to boast a Bobcat mascot, Montana State (1-1) played into the consolation round after taking a crushing loss at No. 19 Marquette by a score of 100-52. MSU took care of Carroll College to open the season, winning 64-48.
The Bobcats are led by senior Claire Lundberg. The 6’1 forward is averaging 17.5 points per contest in the early portion of the season, including a 25-point outing in the season-opening victory over the Saints. Junior Oliana Squires is averaging 12.5 points per games and is shooting better than 30-percent from the 3-point line.
SCOUTING NICHOLLS
Nicholls (0-2) has played a tough schedule to open the 2018-19 season. The Colonels opened the season on the road against No. 4 Baylor before playing at Auburn to begin the WNIT.
Nicholls is led by senior guard Cassidy Barrios, the reigning Southland Conference Player of the Year. She has posted back-to-back 20-point efforts and leads the Colonels with an average of 10.0 rebounds per night. Junior Tykeria Williams was selected to the SLC preseason second team.
UP NEXT FOR THE BOBCATS
TXST will travel down I-35 to take on archrival UTSA. Tip is schedule for 7 p.m. on Nov. 20 from the UTSA Convocation Center. Texas State defeated UTSA by a score of 91-38 in San Marcos a season ago. The next home game will be played at noon on Nov. 24 when the Bobcats take on the Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts at the UEC.
Fitzgerald earns two Sun Belt weekly honors Monday
Freshman outside hitter named league’s Offensive, Freshman of the Week
NEW ORLEANS – Janell Fitzgerald was tabbed both the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon.
The Mansfield, Texas, native earned her first freshman of the week accolade. She also became the only rookie to earn offensive player of the week honors twice this season after also picking up the laurel on Oct. 1.
The true freshman helped the Texas State volleyball team close out the regular season with a decisive 3-0 road sweep at UT Arlington on Nov. 9. After missing two matches due to injury, Fitzgerald returned to rip off career highs in both kills (19) and attack percentage (.692). She had just one error on 26 swings, while adding a pair of digs and blocks.
Texas State won 17 player of the week accolades this season, finishing just one shy of the league record. True freshman Emily DeWalt broke the Sun Belt’s all-time mark with 11 league plaudits. Others to win a weekly award this season were senior Madison Daigle (Defensive, Sept. 3), senior Amy Pflughaupt (Offensive, Sept. 10), and junior Cheyenne Huskey (Offensive, Sept. 17).
Next on the docket for the Bobcats (24-6, 15-1) is the 2018 Sun Belt Championship, which will be held Nov. 15-18 inside GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta. The maroon and gold have earned the No. 1 seed and will compete in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Nov. 17. They will face either No. 4 Little Rock, No. 5 UT Arlington or No. 8 Troy.
SUN BELT VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Texas State freshman outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald – Mansfield, Texas
SUN BELT VOLLEYBALL FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Texas State freshman outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald – Mansfield, Texas
SUN BELT VOLLEYBALL SETTER OF THE WEEK
Little Rock senior Taylor Lindberg – Benton, Ark.
SUN BELT VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Coastal Carolina freshman outside hitter Anett Nemeth – Pecel, Hungary
