SMU Volleyball Loses To Texas State
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SAN MARCOS, Texas (SMU) – Freshman Kristen Stehling posted a team-high 15 kills and Caroline Young finished with 10, but it wasn’t enough to lift SMU (1-1) over Texas State (1-1) Saturday night in the Texas State Classic as the Mustangs fell 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 26-28, 25-22).
Avery Acker recorded assists on 40 of SMU’s 50 kills, and Morgan Heise matched Texas State’s Sierra Smith with a match-high 15 digs. It was a match full of defense, as each team recorded double-digit blocks, and the Mustangs finished with 51 digs to the Bobcats’ 48.
Abbey Bybel had nine digs and seven kills for the Mustangs, and Maddie Lozano scored eight kills and a team-high five blocks. Freshman Janelle Giordano also had seven kills with four blocks.
The Bobcats broke the fourth set open with a 6-2 run to take a 16-11 lead, but SMU battled back to tie the score, 18-18. The Bobcats never gave up the lead, however, finishing the match on their second attempt at set point.
After the 10-minute intermission, SMU stormed out of the lockerroom and took an 8-3 lead to start the third set. The advantage was still five for the Mustangs, leading 21-16 and needing just four points to extend the match, but the Bobcats rallied to tie the score, 22-22.
SMU got the first shot at a set point, but Texas State answered for the next two points. The Bobcats were serving for the match with a 25-24 lead, but this time it was SMU with a two-point rally. With the score tied, a Texas State serve into the net and an ace by Stehling gave the Mustangs the 28-26 win extend the match.
Texas State held off a charge by the Mustangs midway through the second set to take a 2-0 lead with a second straight 25-19 set win. The Bobcats led 14-11, but SMU scored five of the next seven to erase the deficit and tie the score 16-16. After Texas State pushed the lead to four, the Mustangs cut it in half and trailed 21-19, needing the win to even the match. It wasn’t to be as the Bobcats scored the next four to end the set.
In the first set, Texas State scored four straight early to take a 9-6 lead. SMU cut the lead to one, 10-9, but the Bobcats scored five of the next six to lead 15-10. With the deficit eight and Texas State serving for the set leading 24-16, SMU fought off three set points, but fell 25-19.
SMU concludes action at the Texas State Classic Saturday against Lamar at 10 a.m. The Mustangs then play Baylor Tuesday at 6 p.m. before hosting the SMU Classic on Sept. 6 and 7.
