Texas State Volleyball defeats Alabama

Amira Van Leeuwen | Staff Reporter 

SAN MARCOS – Texas State (2-6, 0-0 Sunbelt) played the University of Alabama (5-3, 0-0 SEC)  at 11 a.m. on September 10, 2021. The Bobcats defeated the Crimson Tide 3-1 (25-16, 23,-25, 25-22, 25-22).

Both teams walked onto the court with energy and drive. 

Texas State’s junior outside hitter Caitlan Buettner was the top hitter of the morning, totaling 12 kills followed closely by outside hitter and graduate transfer Jada Gardner with 10 kills. 

SET 1

The first match began with a serve from sophomore setter Ryan Torres. After a short rally, the Bobcats won the first point of the set, moving Torres back to the serving line to lead the Bobcats on a 6-point run (6-0). The six-point score difference called for a timeout from Alabama. After the timeout, a serve-receive error from Torres allowed Alabama their first point of the match putting the score at (6-1).

Photo credited to Lauren Liguez.

After a serve from junior outside hitter Lauren Teske, Alabama junior right-side hitter Kennedy Muckelroy attempts to tip, but the ball goes into the net, giving the Bobcats another point (8-3). Teske serves again, scoring another point for Texas State with an Ace (9-3). The referees blow a whistle, calling Texas State senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott in the net, giving Alabama a point (11-6). Texas State is the first to score 15 points. Alabama took another timeout and Texas State continued to lead with 5-points (18-13). 

Texas State put a short ball over the net and Alabama’s junior libero/defensive specialist Dru Kuck dives for the ball to try to dig it up but she doesn’t make it in time, putting the Bobcats in the lead with 8 points (22-14). 

A kill by Buettner wins the Bobcats their first set (25-16).

SET 2

In the second set, the Bobcats came onto the court with a lot of energy, as Alabama served the ball short, giving the first point to the Bobcats (1-0). But Alabama manages to get a hit past the Texas State block, scoring a point (1-1). The Bobcats responded with a kill from junior middle blocker Tessa Marshall (2-1). Alabama senior outside hitter Abby Marjama got called into the net, giving a point to Texas State (4-3). The Bobcats dynamic duo Scott and outside hitter senior Jannell Fitzgerald continue to be aggressive at the net. An aggressive kill by Fitzgeralds gets Texas State another point (8-4) keeping them in the lead. 

Throughout the second match, Texas State played with consistency and aggression as Alabama played with scrappiness. Alabama sophomore middle blocker Chaise Campbell attacked the ball and was able to get through the Texas State block to score a point for the Crimson Tide (9-7). 

Muckelroy gets a kill and puts the score at an even (11-11) and goes back to serve for Alabama. Her aggressive serve is unable to be picked up by the Bobcats placing Alabama in the lead (12-11). A lack of tip coverage from Texas State kept Alabama in the lead by 2 points (13-11). As Alabama is the first team to fifteen points, Texas State calls a timeout.

Photo credited to Lauren Liguez.

Coming out of the timeout, both teams continue to compete with one another. Johnson passes to Granado who passes a high ball to Teske who gets another kill putting the Bobcats a point behind the Crimson Tide (17-16). A serve error from senior middle blocker Jillian Slaughter gives Alabama another point, keeping them in the lead (18-16). 

Texas State takes another time out with Alabama in the lead (21-19). Both teams come out of the timeout with apparent confidence but a serve error from Alabama gives the point to Texas State and the Bobcats trail by one point (21-20). Marshall and Buettner jump up for a huge block against Muckelroy, shutting her down, scoring another point for Texas State, and tying the game once again (21-21). Alabama gets a kill to end the match (25-23). 

SET 3

Alabama starts off strong in the third set and does a good job of blocking hits from the Bobcats. Johnson passes the ball to Fitzgerald who passes the set to Buettner to get a kill for Texas State as they trail Alabama by one point (5-4). 

During the third match, there were a lot of errors by the Bobcats that allowed Alabama to take the lead by 3 points. A service error gets the Bobcats another point, allowing them to trail by 2 (7-5). An overpass from Alabama gives Teske an opportunity to slam the ball and tie the game up (7-7). But the Crimson Tide continues to fight. Campbell and Marjama block Fitzgerald keeping Alabama in the lead (9-7). Junior outside hitter Courtney Heiser and Marshall get up for a block against Muckelroy tying up the game (12-12).

Photo credited to Lauren Liguez.

Johnson takes a direct hit to the face from Campbell, resulting in gasps from the crowd, but Campbell can’t quite put it down and Texas State is able to score giving them a 2-point lead (20-18). Alabama takes another time out (23-23). At match point, freshman outside hitter Sami Jacobs is set up and hits the ball out of bounds for a Texas State win (25-22). 

Set 4

Alabama starts with the serve but the Bobcats score first from a kill by Gardner (1-0). Granado misses another serve (4-4). Buettner passes to Johnson who sets up Heiser for a hit that’s blocked by Campbell and sophomore outside hitter Kendyl Reaugh. 

The block isn’t enough as the Bobcats score again, putting them in the lead (8-7). The Crimson Tide took another time-out with Texas State leading by four points (12-8). Alabama continues to play with scrappiness and intensity during this set. The Bobcats get point after a service error from Campbell (15-12). 

The Bobcats struggle to break the serve at game point, giving the Crimson Tide a sliver of hope, but a service error from Alabama gives the Bobcats their final point to win the game (25-22).