Four Bobcats to play in final match at Strahan Arena

Brooke Johnson and Tyeranee Scott were here before the championships came. 

In 2017, Texas State came up a win short of sharing a regular season crown with Coastal Carolina and fell to the Chanticleers in the final round of the Sun Belt tournament. Johnson, a setter at the time, and Scott, a middle blocker, were only freshmen then, suffering the heartbreak along with the rest of the older Bobcats.

But their experience set the culture for the maroon and gold and helped them grow into the powerhouse that the program has become over the last four years.

“It was definitely cool to see the growth,” Johnson said. “We were pretty good our freshman year, but we made that next step whenever that class of freshmen came in after us, which was just cool to see. But I don't know, I just feel like our culture here has always been pretty strong. We don't like losing. It's a ‘we're going to be in the championship every year’-type of culture.”

“When I started here, I didn't really know anything. I didn't know about the championship culture here. Like, I just loved the culture coming in,” Scott added. “And to see that switch whenever the class after me came in, and just the grind and just the build from there, it just really shows heart and why I love Texas State Volleyball.”

The fifth-year seniors will play in their final match at Strahan Arena this weekend, along with fourth-year senior libero Kayla Granado and outside hitter Kenedi Rutherford. Together, the quartet has combined to collect seven regular season championship rings and 11 conference tournament titles throughout their careers.

“It's been really cool to be a part of it,” Granado said. “Because, since I came here, as a freshman, it's been like a winning culture. So I've never really seen anything different. And so I think, going from that, like, it'll continue to be a good culture here.”

The four have all overcome obstacles during their respective careers. Scott carved out a consistent role after playing behind upperclassmen during her first couple of seasons. Johnson switched positions, taking over as the team’s libero in 2019. Granado received the libero jersey as a junior in 2018, teaming up with Johnson in the back row. Rutherford transferred in from UTSA in 2019 and had to quickly learn her new team’s system, becoming a regular contributor in each of the past three years.

“I think just we all compete really well with each other,” Rutherford said. “So I think that and just like loving your teammates goes into the competitive nature we have.”

The Bobcats (14-11, 10-2 Sun Belt) are currently in second place in the Sun Belt with four matches remaining on the schedule. The team hosts Little Rock (14-11, 5-8) on Friday at 6 p.m. Johnson, Scott, Granado and Rutherford will play in their last home match on Sunday, taking on Arkansas State (14-11, 5-8) at 11 a.m.

“Tyeranee and Brooke, they've meant a lot to, not just to the program, but to myself. You know, they were the first two seniors that had to buy into me being that coach and can help me there. And they've done wonderful,” head coach Sean Huiet said. “Kayla has been the most consistent kid we probably had in the gym in a long time. And so it's been fun to watch her mature and grow a little bit in volleyball … ​​I think the role (Kenedi's) played for our team has been very critical. The minutes might not have been there for her but she's come through in some big matches, she's done some really good things on the court for us.

“They're really focused on making a late run here and winning the conference tournament.”