Texas State’s (17-11, 11-6 SBC) bid for back-to-back Sun Belt Tournament titles is over after losing a five-set battle to the Arkansas State Red Wolves (21-8, 13-4 SBC).
Texas State and Arkansas State battled in their match at Foley Events Center in Foley, Ala. Coming off a sweep of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, the Bobcats were determined to advance to the Sun Belt Finals. However, in the rematch of last year’s championship game, the Red Wolves were ultimately victorious and will head on to the final round of the tournament.
A 4-0 run started the match off hot for the Bobcats. Texas State continued to apply pressure to the Red Wolves, maintaining a lead of at least three points throughout the middle of the set. The Bobcats’ lead continued to widen to 19-10. Texas State won the first set 25-15 after an Arkansas State hitting error.
The Bobcats dominated offensively at the net throughout set one. They totaled a whopping 15 kills for a .407 hitting percentage compared to the Red Wolves’ .111 hitting percentage. Five Bobcats hit over a .600 hitting percentage in set one.
Arkansas State turned the tables on the Bobcats in the beginning of set two, as they started strong with a 4-0 lead. A service ace by Dylan Gillkey tied the score at 9-9. The Red Wolves pulled ahead again to 17-13 after multiple Bobcat hitting errors.
Texas State battled back to bring the score to 21-22, but ultimately a kill by Arkansas State’s Kaitlin Whitlock earned them the set two victory 25-23. Two service errors in the last five points significantly lowered the Bobcats’ chances of winning the set.
After a neck-and-neck start in set three, Texas State came alive in the latter half of the set. Hustle-plays and long rallies seemed to energize the Bobcats; however, the Red Wolves’ block proved too big and their offense too fast for Texas State.
After thirteen ties and five lead changes, Arkansas State won set three 25-23
Set four consisted of twelve ties and seven lead changes. The Bobcats held onto a small lead for a significant portion of the set. Two kills in a row by Samantha Wunsch earned the Bobcats set four with a score of 25-22, extending the game to a fifth set.
The Bobcats and Red Wolves entered set five with an “all-or-nothing” mindset. Both teams traded points until Arkansas State pulled ahead to bring the score to 11-6.
Texas State fought hard, forcing an extra match point, but ultimately, the Red Wolves will advance to the Sun Belt Conference championship match after they won the fifth set 15-10 and the match 3-2.
