Jasmine Purakal sent an impressive serve that helped secure the Texas State Bobcats a clean-sheet victory (25-22, 25-22, 25-19) against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Friday evening at Robert H. Shelton Gymnasium in Nacogdoches, Texas.
The Bobcats (3-3) had a controlled offense, finishing with 50 overall assists as outside hitter Brooke Bentke led the team with 14 kills.
Setter Anna Blaine recorded 48 assists while Purakal added 16 digs, and middle blocker India Bennett finished with four blocks. Texas State finished with a .358 hitting percentage compared with SFA’s .178.
SFA outside hitter Caroline Kahle led the Lumberjacks with 10 kills, while setter Madi Zorn added twelve assists.
The match opened up with intense rallies and seesawing scoring. The Bobcats built a six-point lead after kills from SFA and closed the first set 25-22.
The Bobcats carried their momentum into the second set, as outside hitter Peyton McKee contributed four kills, helping lift Texas State to another set win by the same score and with a chance to sweep.
Texas State finished the match in the third set after six consecutive points. The Bobcats pulled away late and secured the sweep with a 25-19 victory.
The Bobcats will next face the UT-Arlington Mavericks at 3 p.m., Sept. 11 at the Robert H. Shelton Gymnasium.