Bobcats Volleyball Come Up Short in Home Opener Against Sooners

By Marlee Jackson

KTSW Sports Reporter

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State Bobcats brought volleyball back to Strahan Arena, but not in the way they were hoping. After a tough 3-0 match, the Bobcats fell to the SEC’s Oklahoma Sooners.

The Bobcats opened up the night at Strahan Arena with many new faces, as well as some familiar ones. Returning senior Brooke Bentke led the Bobcats with 7 kills and 21 total attempts. Head Coach Sean Huiet said that Bentke has been a leader on and off the court during the pre-season, and knew that facing off against the sooners, that they would go after Bentke early on.

“They went after her early knowing she was our returning player,” Huiet said. “So they put a lot of pressure on her, where we need other people then to step up and take some of that pressure off of Brooke.”

The Bobcats started out the game in a 5-1 offensive set, then changed to a 6-2 halfway through the second set. Coach Huiet said the change was made to produce more offense.

“We went with a 6-2 to try and get some other hitters activated and take some pressure off our middles a little bit.”

While the Bobcats fell to the Sooners, they plan to make some mental adjustments to prepare for the rest of the season.

“We talk all the time about not wanting to play different because of who is on the other side of the net,” Huiet said. “We want to play the same all the time.”

While the Bobcats struggled to win each set, their support from Texas State fans was undeniable.  The Bobcats next home game will be on Sunday, August 30^th at 1 p.m. against the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns.