Texas State Volleyball: Two Matches Back in San Marcos

I’m an SWT Bobcat, class of 2000, so getting back to San Marcos with my camera is personal for me. I had two opportunities to photograph Texas State volleyball at Strahan Arena, with Gonzaga visiting Thursday and Washington State on Saturday.

Texas State split the two matches at Strahan Arena in San Marcos, Texas, beating Gonzaga 3–1 on October 8, 2026, before falling 3–1 to Washington State on October 10, 2026. I enjoy getting to cover a team more than once. It gives me time to follow how players contribute across matches and photograph more of the people involved.

Texas State vs. Gonzaga: October 8, 2026

Texas State won Thursday’s match against Gonzaga in four sets, 25–16, 17–25, 25–20 and 25–21, ending a three-match losing streak. India Bennett finished with 14 kills and five blocks, and the Bobcats hit .333 as a team. Gonzaga took the second set, so Texas State had to respond by winning the next two.

Ashley Euston also contributed five blocks, and Texas State finished with 11 as a team. Gonzaga’s Claire Wagstaff led everyone with 22 kills. I’m there to photograph both teams, and a performance like Wagstaff’s belongs in the recap, too.

Texas State vs. Washington State: October 10, 2026

Washington State won Saturday’s match against Texas State in four sets, 25–21, 22–25, 25–19 and 25–17. Texas State’s 25–22 second set tied the match, but the Cougars won the next two to finish it.

The third set helps explain the difference. Washington State put away 16 kills with only two attacking errors, hitting .519 in that frame. Eliana Ti’a finished with 16 kills for the match, and Emerson Matthews added 15. Texas State’s Caelyn Robel had 15 of her own, while Ashley Euston contributed ten.

Photographing the Players and Coaches

Looking through the photographs from both days, I’m drawn to the action at the net and the exchanges around it. There’s the Texas State player celebrating with her fists clenched, teammates turning toward one another, and coaches gathered around a tablet on the sideline. I want to keep those details alongside the scores.

I want these photographs to be useful to the people in them. An athlete can use an action image to show her game, and a program can use the photographs to tell its story. For a parent, it may be the celebration with teammates that’s worth returning to.

Take a little time with the photographs of Texas State, Gonzaga and Washington State from these two visits to Strahan. I hope you’ll find an action image or a moment between teammates that you’d like to return to.

Matt Powell is a professional sports content creator who crafts creative assets that drive athlete and team branding strategies.