Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Texas State
Volleyball Hosts Texas State in Sun Belt Home Opener
10/1/2025 9:33:00 AM | Volleyball
TROY, Ala. – Troy volleyball welcomes Texas State to Trojan Arena for a pair of Sun Belt matches on Thursday and Friday. Both contests are set for 6 p.m. and will stream exclusively on ESPN+.
The Trojans return home after a five-match road stretch, opening conference play last weekend with two losses to South Alabama. Amiah Butler led the way offensively with 32 kills across the series, averaging 4.0 per set, while Ashlynn Axtell added 16 kills and four blocks.
Texas State, the reigning Sun Belt champion, began league play last weekend by hosting Louisiana. The Bobcats dropped the opener in four sets before bouncing back to sweep the Ragin' Cajuns the following day. Setter Anna Blaine leads the conference in total assists (467) and ranks second in assists per set (9.73).
Match Information
The Matchup: vs. Texas State
When: Thursday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. | Friday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.
Where: Troy, Ala. - Trojan Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Stats: TroyTrojans.com/livestats
Starting Strong
Freshman Brooke Forkum made her career debut on Sept. 26 against South Alabama, finishing the match with seven kills on .333 hitting. The seven kills were the most in a Troy freshman debut since 2019, when Ashley Guenveur also recorded seven against Southeastern Louisiana. Forkum followed it up with another stellar performance the following day with 12 kills and 3.0 blocks.
Passing the Torch
The Trojans have split setting duties between fifth-year senior Jordan Sinness and freshman Madison Marx, who together have assisted on 83 percent of Troy's kills this season. The pair's numbers are strikingly similar: Marx has totaled 180 assists, seven service aces, and 53 digs, while Sinness has recorded 177 assists, six aces, and 56 digs.
Scouting Texas State
21st meeting: Texas State leads, 20-0
Texas State sits at 6-7 overall and 1-1 in Sun Belt play after splitting its series with Louisiana last weekend. Samantha Wunsch leads the Bobcats offensively with 147 kills this season, while Anna Blaine's 9.73 assists per set rank second in the conference and 42nd nationally. As a team, Texas State is hitting .206.
Notables
- Troy is seeking its first-ever win against Texas State this week, as the Trojans enter the series 0-20 all-time against the Bobcats. Texas State swept both meetings last season in San Marcos.
- The Trojans played their first four-set match of the season on Friday at South Alabama. Prior to that match, Troy had played in six three-set contests and two five-set battles. Saturday's rematch with the Jaguars also went four sets.
- Troy is 6-0 in Sun Belt home openers since 2019 and 6-2 overall under head coach Josh Lauer. Last season, the Trojans opened league play at home with a straight-set win over South Alabama, highlighted by a double-double from Tori Hester (15 kills, 13 digs).
- Troy head coach Josh Lauer is in his ninth season at the helm, holding a career record of 122-121. He is the second-longest tenured Division I head coach in Troy program history, trailing only Sonny Kirkpatrick, who guided the Trojans for 11 seasons (2006-16).
