Cat’s attack gets it done in four against the Zags 

By Kason Duncan 

KTSW Sports Reporter  

SAN MARCOS, Texas—The Texas State women’s volleyball attack appeared to be too much too handle for the Gonzaga Bulldogs losing in four sets. 25-16, 25-17 (Gonzaga), 25-20, 25-21 in the final set. 

During the second set the Cats faced some adversity after the Bulldogs ran out a taller line-up to match the red-hot start from set one.  Lucy Slavik, Claire Wagstaff and Taylor Walsh all being listed over 6’2, gave the Cats problems. The Zags controlled the net for the majority of the set picking up two blocks. Wagstaff picked up seven out of 22 kills in the set. This would be the only set the Zag’s could control. 

“Obviously our Achillies heel is when someone pushed, We kind of stepped back and didn’t push back in that second set when they pushed, you saw the third and fourth set and we showed what we had.” Head coach Sean Huiet’s opening statement. 

The Cat’s offense tonight was rolling being led by fifth year senior India Bennett with 14 kills and the Bobcats had 52 team kills. Bennett finished the night with a .440 hitting percentage and picked up five blocks with middle blocker Ashley Euston also picking up five blocks. Jasmine Purakal picked up the loose ends flying around to scoop up 11 digs. One of those being in the longest rally of the night.  

The first set was off to a scorching start for senior Brooke Bentke, who got her first three kills of the game in the first five points of the set. The Cats started the first 4-0 run of the game being capped off by Euston making it 15-9. Another 4-0 run secures the first set for the Cats. 25-16 

Peyton McKee, Euston and Bennett combined for a 12 kills in the first set and looked to continue the offensive domination. But the Bulldogs rolled out their taller line-up to stop the Cat’s attack in the second set. It worked; the Zag’s controlled the net with three blockers and a very impressive performance from junior hitter Wagstaff. She picked up 22 kills in total and secured the win in set two after a huge spike. 25-17. 

After switching sides it was all Bobcats all night. Jumping out to a 9-3 lead the attack of the Cats seemed to be back like the second set never happened. Zags were down 20-14 and tried to mount a comeback this set behind Daniele Clewis’s four straight serves but it was not enough. Bentke and the Bobcats put them away with her tenth kill. 25-20 Cats.  

 The Bulldogs decided to put out a similar line-up to what we saw in the second set but was not as successful as the first fleet we saw. The Cats once again jumped out to an early lead and stayed on top of the Zags. The longest and most impressive rally of the night was saved by fifth year senior Purakal. Full extension and all; this took the life completely from the Bulldogs and an ace from Anna Blaine really put it away. A small late run from Gonzaga proved to be not enough dropping the last set. 25-21. 

“ We don’t need to be playing our best right now, but we are at a point where we have got to start turning it over and go, Only four teams make the conference tournament and that’s something we’re shooting for.”  

The Texas State Bobcats look to get to .500 in Pac-12 conference play with a game against Washington State at Strahan Arena this Saturday Oct. 10th. It is “Maroon Madness” so wear your maroon.