LBSU Women’s Volleyball Drops Hard-Fought Home Opener to Texas State, 3-2

Thursday, September 5

Long Beach, Calif.

8:00 PM

Long Beach State University

2-2

Texas State

2-3

Texas State

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

LBSU Women’s Volleyball Drops Hard-Fought Home Opener to Texas State, 3-2

9/6/2019 12:10:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Hailey Harward collected a season-high 25 digs in setback

By: Lindy Zamora, Associate Athletic Communications Director

@LBSU_WVB Head Coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer and senior libero Hailey Harward talk about the team's tough 3-2 setback against Texas State in the Beach's home opener #GoBeach https://t.co/ALz97oaRSl via @LBSUAthletics
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSU_WVB) September 6, 2019

Box Score (PDF) | Photo Gallery

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Long Beach State women's volleyball team dropped a tough 3-2 [17-25, 25-18, 25-19, 20-25, 15-17] decision to Texas State in the home opener at Walter Pyramid.

The Beach (2-2) held a 2-1 set lead over the Bobcats (2-3) and went up in the fourth set, but were unable to put Texas State away as the visitors forced a fifth and deciding set that saw nine ties before the Bobcats handed the Beach their second loss of the year.

Senior libero Hailey Harward paced the backrow for Long Beach State with a season-high 25 digs, just two shy of her career-high. Freshman defensive specialist Nicole Hoff joined Harward in double-figures with 13 digs, while senior middle blocker Kjersti Norveel led the team at the net with five blocks.

Offensively, LBSU hit .244 on the night as three players reach double digits led by sophomore outside hitter Allison Martinez's 16 kills. Sophomore Kashauna Williams added 14 kills of her own, while senior middle blocker YiZhi Xue contributed 11.

Freshman setter Tia Chavira distributed 42 assists to go along with six digs and three kills on .375 hitting (3-0-8) in another solid outing.

Set one began close with both teams trading points early on. However, Texas State used an 8-1 run to open up a 20-12 lead over Long Beach State. The Beach strung together three straight points of their own, but were unable to recover from the eight-point deficit as they fell, 25-17.

The Beach bounced back in the second set as they hit .375 and held the Bobcats to a .029 attack percentage. Long Beach State received a strong showing from Williams and Martinez as the duo combined for nine of the team's 14 kills. LBSU used a pair of runs to jump out in front of Texas State as the Beach came away with a 25-18 victory to even the match at one set apiece.

Long Beach State used the momentum from the second set victory to stay in the groove in the third set as the Beach hit over .300 once again. Williams led the offensive attack and received help from Amanda Henderson who knocked down four kills on six errorless swings as the Beach claimed a 25-19 win. Henderson would finish the match with seven total kills, five digs, and two blocks.

Despite taking a 10-7 lead early in the fourth set, the Beach saw their lead dwindle as the Bobcats used a 3-0 run to even the score at 10-all. The two teams battled each other over the next several points, but Texas State used a 4-1 run to go up 20-19, before closing out the frame with five straight points to win the fourth set, 25-20, and force a fifth and deciding set.

The two teams fought each other tooth and nail in the fifth set as they battled through nine ties before Texas State took a 13-12 lead over the Beach. From there, the Bobcats pushed it to match point, but the Beach would not go away quietly. LBSU fought off two match points before Texas State claimed the set and match, 17-15, in a hard-fought contest.

Texas State also had three players reach double-figures in Cheyenne Huskey (15 kills), Tyeranee Scott (11 kills), and Kenedi Rutherford (11 kills). The Bobcats hit .215 in the match and were out-blocked by the Beach 9.0 to 3.0.

The Long Beach State Mizuno Classic continues on Friday, Sept. 6 with UCLA and Texas State playing the first match at 5 p.m., and Long Beach State and Georgia in the nightcap at 7 p.m.