Box Score
San Marcos, Texas – Behind the play of senior Melinda Cave and junior Amber Calhoun, the Texas State volleyball team improved to 5-4 this season with a victory against North Texas, 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20). In front of a home crowd of 934 fans at Strahan Coliseum, the Bobcats won their second four-set match of the day at the CenturyLink Premier.
The Bobcats are 3-0 at home so far this season and have started the CenturyLink Premier 2-0 after defeating Tennessee-Martin earlier in the day. Texas State and Alabama will meet in what proves to be the championship match on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Cave and Calhoun were dominant on both sides of the net Friday night. Cave, a right-side hitter from Placentia, Calif., has taken advantage of her increased playing time over the past few matches with solid performances. None were more impressive than against North Texas as the crafty senior posted 12 kills, five blocks, six digs and a .526 hitting percentage.
“It's really good to see Melinda and Mo [Middleton] back on the court,” said head coach Karen Chisum. “Just the experience, the belief and the confidence [they bring]. Confidence means a whole lot.”
Calhoun had a career night offensively for the Bobcats as she repeated pounded balls onto the North Texas side of the court from her middle blocker position. The junior for Houston, Texas, had a career-best 13 kills to go along with a .619 hitting percentage, five blocks and six digs. An All-SLC First Team selection a season ago, Calhoun looked to regain her 2009 form after a slow start to the season due to a foot injury.
“I wanted to prove that I deserve to be on the court and that I want my position back,” Calhoun said. “I gave it my all.”
Also stepping up for the Bobcats were freshmen Amari Deardorff and Preslie Alexander as Chisum was not afraid to show of the team's depth. Deardorff entered in the second set and made an impact down the stretch with seven kills and a .500 hitting percentage, while Alexander's eight kills and tough serving paid dividends for Texas State.
Senior Shelbi Irvin handled most of the setting duties for the Bobcats as she finished with 39 assists and helped the team to a .292 hitting percentage. Irvin also tallied a team-high 10 digs as she notched her fifth double-double of the season.
Texas State held a 10-5 advantage in blocks for the match as the team recorded double-digit stuffs for the fourth time this season. The Bobcats also led in kills (56-51), assists (52-45) and aces (7-3), while the Mean Green held a slight advantage in digs (52-51).
The Bobcats return to action at Strahan Coliseum on Saturday at 2 p.m. to take on Alabama In the final match of the CenturyLink Premier. For more information, visit www.txstatebobcats.com/centurylinkpremier.
