The Seattle University volleyball team did not give up, winning the third set after dropping the first two sets, but Texas State regained control of the match in the fourth set on its way to a 3-1 victory (25-11, 25-10, 22-25, 25-15) Thursday night in a Western Athletic Conference match at Strahan Coliseum.
Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) notched her ninth double-double of the season with 12 kills and 12 digs, plus she earned three service aces. Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) contributed five kills and four total blocks, Jacquie Brice (Fullerton, Calif.) collected 27 assists, seven digs, and two total blocks, and Lani Beadle (Seattle, Wash.) finished with 18 defensive digs for the Redhawks.
After Seattle U scored the first point of the match on a block by Farley and Brice, Texas State went on a 6-1 scoring run, led by two kills from Ashlee Hilbun and a kill and a block assist from Molly Ahrens. The Bobcats would close out the first set by outscoring the Redhawks, 12-2, thanks in part to two kills and a set-clinching service ace by Alexandra Simms.
Texas State (12-11, 7-5 WAC) scored the first six points of the second set, including a kill and two blocks by Hilbun. The Bobcats extended their lead to 16-4 with five unanswered points, capped by consecutive kills from Morgan McDaniel. McDaniel would close out the second set with another kill, giving the home team a 2-0 match lead heading into the intermission.
The Bobcats scored five unanswered points early in the third set to pull ahead, 8-3, and the two teams basically traded points until the score read 17-11 in Texas State's favor. Seattle U fought back, scoring five straight points thanks in part to two kills and a block assist from Dill. The Redhawks went on an 8-3 scoring run to end the third set, led by two kills and three block assists by Alec Goodrie (Springfield, Ore.), and extend the match into a fourth set.
Seattle U could not carry its momentum into the fourth set, making three early attack errors as Texas State scored the first five points of the set. The Redhawks responded, as two service aces by Dill and two Bobcat errors closed the gap to one at 5-4. Texas State went on an 8-2 scoring run to take control of the set, and Hilbun would notch a kill to finish off the set and the match in the Bobcats' favor.
Hilbun finished the night with 12 kills without an attack error, plus she earned eight digs and four total blocks, while Simms added 10 kills to the winning effort. Caylin Mahoney accumulated 22 assists, nine kills, and four total blocks, and fellow setter Caleigh McCorquodale notched a double-double with 18 assists and 10 defensive digs.
Seattle University (7-15, 2-10 WAC) stays in Texas to face UTSA Saturday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Pacific time). The Redhawks are in the midst of a four-match road swing, taking on New Mexico State (Oct. 29) and Idaho (Nov. 3) away from home before returning to the Connolly Center for their final two home matches of the 2012 season.