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The Troy Trojans (8-11, 3-6) opened up its Sun Belt Conference volleyball series against the Arkansas State Red Wolves (17-4, 7-2) on the road on Thursday with a tough 3-2 loss.

Troy won the first set 25-20 and took the second set 25-20 but Arkansas State rallied to win the third set 25-17 and took the fourth by a score of 25-21. In the final set, the two sides battled to seven different ties – and two lead changes – before the Wolves pulled away for a 15-12 win to take the match.

“It was really tough. We took advantage of Arkansas State’s errors in the first couple sets, and then kind of got into a dog fight,” Troy Coach Josh Lauer said. “We had a tough time slowing them down defensively, and getting into a fifth set and it goes back and forth. They were the team that played a little bit cleaner, and now we have got to rebound and kind of get straightened back out tomorrow and try to play a little bit more consistent.”

Tori Hester led Troy with 21 kills, two aces, 15 digs and one block, while Amiah Butler chipped in with 13 kills and two blocks. Jaci Mesa earned a match-high 23 digs. Ashlynn Axtell earned three blocks, while Janelle Stuempfig dished 28 assists with 10 digs. Jordan Sinness also earned 20 assists and seven digs. Deadrianna Cail led Arkansas State with 17 kills and 11 blocks.

Troy currently sits at fifth place in the Sun Belt West, while Arkansas State is in second place behind South Alabama.