Game Notes
San Marcos, Texas – For the third consecutive season, the Texas State volleyball team will begin its Southland Conference schedule against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. And if history is any indication, the Bobcats will be off to a 1-0 start in the conference.
Texas State (7-7) will take on the Islanders on Friday, September 24 at 7 p.m. in the 13th all-time meeting between the two schools. In the previous 12 matches, the Bobcats came out victorious each time.
Following Friday's match in Corpus Christi, the Bobcats will make a stop in San Antonio on their way back to San Marcos to play UTSA on Saturday, September 25 at 3 p.m.
Live stats and video webstreaming will be available for both matches through the respective opponent's website. To access the live coverage, visit the Texas State volleyball schedule and click on details for the appropriate match.
Texas State Bobcats (7-7) at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (6-7)
Date: Friday, September 24
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Site: Corpus Christi, Texas - Dugan Wellness Center
Live Stats: www.goislanders.com
Live Webstreaming: www.goislanders.com
Postgame Coverage: www.txstatebobcats.com
Texas State Bobcats (7-7) at UTSA Roadrunners (6-8)
Date: Saturday, September 25
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Site: San Antonio, Texas - Convocation Center
Live Stats: www.goutsa.com
Live Webstreaming: www.goutsa.com
Postgame Coverage: http://www.txstatebobcats.com/
Scouting Texas State
Texas State enters the weekend with an even 7-7 record after going 1-2 at the Arizona Invitational last weekend. Offensively, the Bobcats feature a balanced, two-setter attack that is run by senior Shelbi Irvin and sophomore Caleigh McCorquodale. The duo earned all-tournament team honors last weekend after helping the team to a win against New Mexico State.
A consistent block has been an element that the Bobcats have brought to every match this season. Texas State ranks third in the SLC with an average of 2.08 blocks per set as a team. Both Ashlee Hilbun and Amber Calhoun are averaging at least 1.00 block per set as the Bobcats are the only team in the SLC to have more than one player with those credentials.
Scouting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Head Coach: Tony Graystone
Conference: Southland
All-Time Series: Texas State leads, 12-0
Last Meeting: Texas State won, 3-0 (11/14/09)
The Islanders started the season 1-4 but have since won five of their last eight matches to improve to 6-7 this season. Most recently, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi defeated Prairie View A&M, 3-0, on Tuesday.
The Islanders offensive statistics are remarkably similar to their opponents, as both TAMCC and its opponents are hitting .164 this season with an average of 11.3 kills per set.
Emma Ridley leads the team with a 3.24 kills per set average, while setter Logen Bourque averaged 8.14 assists per set. Libero Micah Nolan leads the Islanders in digs at 4.05 per set, while Jordan Flemer (0.72 blk/s) is one of four players to average more than 0.50 blocks per set.
Scouting UTSA
Head Coach: Laura Groff
Conference: Southland
All-Time Series: Texas State leads, 47-10
Last Meeting: Texas State won, 3-0 (11/12/09)
Much like the Bobcats, the Roadrunners have played a very challenging preconference schedule in which they picked up a couple of significant victories. UTSA defeated Mississippi in five sets in the season opener, and last Saturday, the Roadrunners took down UAB. Texas State and UTSA have three common opponents to this point in the season, and the result against each has been the same. Both teams defeated North Texas and UT-Pan American while falling to Texas Tech.
Libero Kelsey Jewasko is fresh off of being named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week and leads the team with 5.10 digs per set. Offensively, Kendra Rowlands (2.68 kills/set) leads an attack that averages 12.95 kills per set. As a team, UTSA is hitting .203 while holding opponents to a .191 clip.
Top Notes
AVCA Play Of The Week
The Texas State volleyball team had a play during its match against North Texas voted as the American Volleyball Coaches Association Play of the Week. The play, which was up against four other plays from various schools, received more than 65 percent of the vote. Texas State's play will now join the other plays that are chosen as AVCA Play of the Week throughout the season to be voted on as AVCA Play of the Year which will be announced at the AVCA Convention in Kansas City, Mo. this December. In the play, AJ Watlington dove to save a blocked Bobcat attack before Melinda Cave raced into the scorers table to track down the ball and bring the ball back into the court. Ashlee Hilbun then made a diving, one-handed back row swing at the ball in desperation to get it over the net. After the ball went to the North Texas side of the court, Texas State regrouped from the scramble and Preslie Alexander and Hilbun combined to stuff the North Texas attack and win the point for a 6-5 lead in the second set.
National Attendance Rankings
Texas State is ranked 34th in the nation in attendance this season with an average of 891 fans per contest. Texas State finished the 2009 season ranked 35th in the country in attendance.
Arizona Invitational All-Tournament Team
Setters Shelbi Irvin and Caleigh McCorquodale were both named to the Arizona Invitational All-Tournament Team. The duo shared setting duties throughout the weekend and combined for 71 assists and 34 digs during the three-match tournament. Irvin averaged 4.56 assists per set during the tournament as she totaled 41 assists. She also had 13 digs and led the team with five aces at the service line. McCorquodale, who had her third double-double of the season on Saturday with 14 assists and 15 digs, ended the tournament with 30 assists (3.33 assists per set), 21 digs and two aces.
Southland Conference Openers
Texas State is 9-6 in its last 15 Southland Conference openers. The Bobcats have faced Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in each of its last two SLC openers and won both contests.
League Leaders
Texas State and UTSA are ranked first and second in the conference in kills per set. UTSA leads the SLC with a 12.95 kills per set average, while the Bobcats are right behind at 12.86 kills per set.
Undefeated
The Bobcats have never lost to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in their previous 12 meetings.
