SMDR STORIES OF THE YEAR
The San Marcos Daily Record Sports Team counting down the best stories from 2024. Coming in at No. 4 is the Texas State volleyball team capturing the Sun Belt Conference tournament title for the first time since 2020. The article is a recap from the Bobcats win over Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference tournament final published in the Nov. 26, 2024 paper.
The conference title is heading back to San Marcos.
Texas State defeated Arkansas State 3-0 [25-18, 25-23, 25-10] to win their
WHY THIS STORY?
“It was a wild season for Texas State volleyball.
First the Bobcats couldn’t play at home for nearly a month after Strahan was booked to host the upcoming 2024 Presdential Debate that was ultimately canceled. After being on the road for a month, the Bobcats went into conference play and finished in the top four of the standings, missing out on the regular season championship by one game. Texas State responded by winning nine straight sets in the tournament for a clean sweep before beating Arkansas State in the championship to bring home the tournament championship for the first time since 2020.”
— Colton McWilliams Sports Editor first Sun Belt Tournament Championship since 2020 and receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The title is the Bobcats fifth Sun Belt Tournament title in program history.
During the tournament, the Bobcats never dropped a set to their conference foes going a perfect 9-0.
Senior Setter Ryann Torres was the Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
In the first set, Texas State jumped out to an early lead 9-4. Arkansas State responded by going on a 6-1 run to tie the game at 10-10.
Battling back and forth, both the Bobcats and the Red Wolves found themselves tied up at 14-14.
The Bobcats went on a 6-0 run helped by two key blocks by sophomore outside hitter Samantha Wunsch, junior outside hitter Maggie Walsh and junior middle blocker Jade Defraeye, leading 20-14.
Arkansas State attempted to make a comeback and closed the gap at 2219 but the Bobcats closed the door on the Red Wolves, ending the set on two straight kills from freshman M.J. McCurdy to win the first set 25-19.
In the second set, Texas State jumped out to the lead up 10-6 but another comeback by Arkansas State tied the game at 1414.
The Red Wolves and the Bobcats went back and forth once more with neither team gaining the advantage going into the final frame of the second set tied at 22-22.
Following a Bobcat timeout, Texas State took advantage of a serving error and an attacking error by the Red Wolves to reach set point at 24-22.
Arkansas State was able to get a point back before McCurdy once again ended the set on a kill as the Bobcats won the second set 25-23.
In the third set, Arkansas State still jumped out to the big lead at 10-4. But the Bobcats answered back with a 6-0 run to tie the game at 10-10. Texas State later took their first lead of the set at 12-11 following a kill from McCurdy.
Arkansas State was unable to recapture the lead from the Bobcats, who led for the entirety of the third set before being at match point 24-20.
One final kill from Wunsch sealed the deal for the Bobcats, winning the third set and the match at 25-20.
McCurdy led the team in kills with 16 followed by Wunsch with 12. Torres led the team in assists with 35.
On defense, senior libero Alyssa Ortega led the team in digs with 14 followed by junior defensive specialist Alyssa Clark and Walsh with 11 a piece. Defraeye led the team in blocks with seven followed by Wunsch with six.
The Bobcats will learn where they will play in the NCAA Tournament next Sunday.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
M.J. McCrudy gets the kill for the Bobcats. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
