From staff reports

Texas State’s hopes of repeating as Sun Belt Tournament champions came to a heartbreaking end Saturday.

Top-seed Arkansas State defeated the fourth-seed Bobcats 3–2 (15-25, 25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10) in the semifinals at the Foley Events Center in Foley, Alabama. The five-set loss came despite a standout 22-kill performance from Samantha Wunsch and a career-high 31 digs from libero Alyssa Clark.

Texas State opened strong, hitting .407 in the first set and rolling to a 25–15 win behind six early kills from Wunsch.

The second set tightened, with neither team leading by more than three points. Although Texas State (17-12) continued to defend well, Arkansas State’s blocking presence proved decisive in a 25–23 win that evened the match. The Red Wolves (21-8) edged another tense finish in the third, taking the final two points on consecutive kills to claim a 25–23 victory and a 2–1 match lead.

Texas State responded in the fourth, battling through 12 ties before closing with back-to-back kills from Wunsch to take a 25–22 win and force the deciding set. Wunsch finished with 22 kills, while Clark anchored the defense with a career-best 31 digs.

Arkansas State pulled away early in the fifth set, breaking a 5–5 tie with a 4–0 run and maintaining control to secure a 15–10 finish and the match. Jade Defraeye added eight kills and four blocks for the Bobcats, and with her block assist total reaching 146, she became the program’s single-season record holder. Setter Dylan Gilkey posted 30 assists.

The Red Wolves defeated James Madison in five sets Sunday in the championship to earn the automatic bid in to the NCAA Tournament. The Bobcats will await potential postseason selection, with the NCAA Tournament field revealed Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. Texas State has an RPI of 53.