Texas State notebook: Bobcats hope for inside track to Sun Belt volleyball title
SAN MARCOS — Texas State's volleyball team has won eight of its last nine matches and is tied for the top spot in the Sun Belt West Division, but that tie will be tested this weekend with two home matches against Troy, the West's other leader.
With four matches left until the Sun Belt Tournament, Texas State (18-6, 10-2) secured its 10th conference win last week (3-2 over Arkansas State), marking 10 straight seasons the Bobcats have reached double-digit victories in conference play. Middle blocker Jillian Slaughter, outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald, setter Emily DeWalt and outside hitter Lauren Teske have been on half of those teams, as each player opted to return this season for their fifth year.
Friday's series opener will be Texas State's first match against Troy (16-8, 10-2) since the Bobcats swept the Trojans in the quarterfinals of last year's Sun Belt Tournament. Texas State then lost in the finals, snapping a three-year run of conference championships. The Trojans were in the East last year before moving to the West as a result of the Sun Belt adding Marshall, Old Dominion, James Madison and Southern Miss.
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A regular season championship is still in play for the Bobcats, but they are behind James Madison (17-4, 11-1) from the East. Texas State and James Madison split their two-match series in San Marcos earlier this season, with the Bobcats handing the Dukes their only conference loss. The Dukes also have four matches left — at Marshall (7-17, 1-11) twice this weekend and at home against South Alabama (14-10, 8-4) next weekend.
After this weekend's Troy series, Texas State will close out the regular season at Coastal Carolina (17-8, 9-3) next weekend. The Sun Belt Tournament begins Nov. 16 in Foley, Ala.
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Soccer: Texas State’s season came to a close on Wednesday night with the fourth-seeded Bobcats losing in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Tournament to fifth-seeded James Madison 1-0.
The Bobcats (12-5-2) lost both matches this season against the Dukes (11-3-5), falling 3-1 in San Marcos on Oct. 6. Sophomore midfielder Madi Goss was named to the all-conference first team, while senior defender Avery Thies was named to the second team. Goss led the Bobcats with nine goals, including the first hat trick by a Bobcats player since 2015 when she scored three goals in a 4-1 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 25.
Basketball: The Texas State men’s team won its lone exhibition game 90-65 over Cameron at Strahan Arena on Wednesday. The Bobcats outscored the Aggies 46-26 in the paint and scored 23 points on 18 turnovers. Junior guard Brandon Davis, a first-year transfer from Loyola, led the Bobcats with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 2-for-5 from 3-point range. The 6-foot-1 guard also tied with Brandon Love for the team lead in rebounds with seven. Three other Bobcats reached double figures with Tyrel Morgan scoring 16, Nate Martin 10 and Love 13. Texas State tips off its season Monday night at Washington State.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Surging Texas State, surging Troy to settle volleyball division title
