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San Marcos, Texas – Behind career performances from team captains Amber Calhoun and Caleigh McCorquodale and the team's best blocking effort of the season, the Texas State volleyball team defeated visiting Central Arkansas, 3-1 (25-13, 25-27, 25-18, 25-20), on Saturday afternoon in Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats extended their winning streak to nine matches with the victory.

Calhoun was a force on both sides of the net throughout the entire match, posting a match-high 15 kills with a .500 hitting percentage offensively, while adding a career-high-tying 10 blocks on defense. Calhoun's 10 stuffs mark the most in the Southland Conference in a four-set match this season. The senior from Houston made it five matches in a row with double-digit kills. She has also posted a hitting percentage of.500 or above in four matches during that stretch.

McCorquodale also flashed brilliance both ways as she led the team with a career-high 21 digs to go along with 41 assists from her setter position. A junior from Cypress, Texas, McCorquodale recorded her team-leading ninth double-double of the season.

“This was a fun game,” said head coach Karen Chisum. “I'm extremely proud of the win tonight. I can't say enough for Amber Calhoun. It was one of her best matches both offensively and defensively.”

Following an early 4-4 tie, the first set was all Texas State as the Bobcats scored 17 of the next 22 points to win going away, 25-13. The team was sparked by a serving run from junior Danielle Sanchou who scored five straight for the Bobcats to put the team ahead 9-4 before an eight-point serving run from sophomore Ashlee Hilbun gave the team a 19-9 lead. Sophomore Amari Deardorff finished the first set with six kills as the Bobcats hit .500 as a team.

The second set began exactly the opposite from set one as Central Arkansas jumped out to a 9-1 lead. However, the Bobcats chipped away at their deficit and came back to take a 21-20 lead late in the period. The teams traded points until 24-24 when a kill from sophomore Melissa Toth gave the Bobcats a set point. However, the visitors fended off the Bobcat opportunity with a kill before scoring the next two points to take even the match at 1-1.

The script was flipped in the third set when the Bobcats jumped out to a 9-1 lead. However, the home team was able to keep the Sugar Bears at bay for the remainder of the set before capturing a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-18 win.

The fourth set was tight the entire way until the Bobcats broke it open late with a seven-point run behind the serving of Hilbun that gave the team a 21-17 lead. UCA came back within two, 22-20, but a kill and block from Calhoun helped the team close out the final three points for a 25-20 victory.

The Bobcats improved to 18-6 overall and 9-1 in the Southland with the win, while Central Arkansas was dealt its third conference loss this season in falling to 13-11, 7-3 SLC. Texas State remains firmly in second place in the Southland West Division behind undefeated UTSA.

In addition to Calhoun and McCorquodale's standout performances, the Bobcats were helped by 13 kills from Deardorff and 12 from Toth. Senior Lindy DeGeare added eight as the Bobcats held a 52-47 advantage in the category.

Defensively, the Bobcats had a season-high 16 blocks and held an 11-block advantage over the Sugar Bears. Along with Calhoun's 10 blocks, Hilbun posted five and both Deardorff and DeGeare added four for the team.

McCorquodale's 21 digs were the most for any player in Saturday's match while Sanchou chipped in with a season-high 11.