Dec. 3, 2009
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AUSTIN, TEXAS - Texas State volleyball ended its season at the NCAA Austin Sub Regional after falling to No. 2 Texas, 3-0, at Gregory Gym in Austin. The Bobcats made their seventh trip to the championships after claiming the 2009 Southland Conference Tournament title to earn the automatic bid out of the SLC. The Bobcats end their season 22-13, 13-3 in the SLC.
Junior outside hitter Mo Middleton recorded eight kills and six digs, while senior outside hitter Jessica Weynand added five kills and seven digs. Senior setter Brittany Collins tallied a match-high 15 assists.
"(On being in the tournament) We came on strong and we are extremely proud to be here," said head coach Karen Chisum. "We came up against a lot of weapons. Needless to say, Texas is very, very good. I told Jerritt [Elliott] after the game that I am going to be disappointed if Texas is not in the Final Four or the National Championship. They are an excellent team. But I am very proud of our players as well."
Texas State held its own in the first as they traded points with the Longhorns for the first half of the set. Texas had three straight attack errors to help the Bobcats come to within three at the 9-12 mark.
The Longhorns stretched their lead to seven after a Bobcat attack error to go up 18-11. AJ Watlington tried to get things going with a late kill, but Texas grabbed the first set 25-16. Destinee Hooker led all players after the first set with six kills.
Middleton gave Texas State its first lead of the match with a kill down the right side to go up 3-2 on the Longhorns. Crucial attack errors saw the Bobcats drop down 4-9 with Texas extending its lead to seven after two service aces by Hooker.
Amber Calhoun sent two kills through the Longhorn middle to close in on the Longhorns lead. Unfortunately, the momentum favored the Longhorns as the set went on, with Texas taking advantage of Texas State miscues and winning the set 25-14 after a kill by Rachel Adams. Middleton recorded three kills in the set to bring her total to five and lead the pack.
The Longhorns momentum carried over into the third set jumping out to an early 7-2 lead. A series of Longhorn blocks, six total in the set, and kills stretched their lead to 19-8. Texas State had one last effort after a Melinda Cave kill was followed by an Ally Buitron ace to only lead to a powerful kill by Hooker to close out the final set, 25-14.
"We knew that Texas had some height to them and we knew that they were good," said Weynand. "But we went out there and we played our game. I don't think we changed anything that we had planned originally. But we never gave up, so that was great."
The Longhorns outhit the Bobcats, .289 to .044. Hooker led all players with nine kills and five blocks. Jennifer Doris also chipped in eight kills, while Rachel Adams had six blocks. Texas will face TCU in the second round of the NCAA Championships.
"It's kind of a bittersweet way to go out winning and being a champion gives me the chance to do things that a lot of players don't ever get to do and that's a pretty good way to go out," said Collins.
