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San Marcos, Texas – Texas State volleyball had a happy Homecoming night on Saturday as the Bobcats defeated Sam Houston State, 3-1 (25-21, 25-16, 21-25, 25-16), at Strahan Coliseum to improve their season-long winning streak to 11 matches.
The win gives Texas State (20-6, 11-1 SLC) its 20th win of the season, marking the 20th time in head coach Karen Chisum's career that she has reached the 20-win mark. The Bobcats maintained their position in second place in the Southland Conference with the win and are one game back of undefeated UTSA.
Texas State's winning streak is the team's longest since the 2009 when the team won 13 consecutive matches. The program's longest winning streak ever was 23 matches in 2000.
In addition, Saturday's win was the 999th in the history of the Texas State volleyball program.
Sam Houston State fell to the Bobcats for the second time this season and dropped to 13-12 overall and 7-5 in the Southland Conference.
Texas State used a serving run from senior Rachel Doyle early in the first set to jump out to an early lead that the team would hold the remainder of the set. Sam Houston State cut into its deficit, coming back within two points, 22-20, but a kill from Amber Calhoun then two from Amari Deardorff gave the Bobcats the early 1-0 lead in the match.
The Bobcats never trailed in the second set, jumping out to an early five-point lead, 9-4, after an ace from Laura Whalen before extending their advantage to nine, 19-10, on a winner from Melissa Toth. The Bearkats came back within five, but Texas State answer with a run of its own capped off with an ace from Ashlee Hilbun to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Sam Houston State regrouped to win its first set of the season against the Bobcats in the third, but Texas State answered with a convincing 25-16 win in the final set to secure the match.
“It was a match of streaks,” said Chisum, who was honored as a Texas State Distinguished Alumni on Friday evening. “There was a lot of inconsistent play, but we were happy to get the win.”
Hilbun had a strong overall game for the Bobcats, posting a team-high 10 kills and .304 hitting percentage along with six blocks.
Setter Caleigh McCorquodale handed out 41 assists and added a team-high 15 digs as she posted her 10th double-double of the season. Doyle (12 digs) and Whalen (10) also finished with double-digit saves for Texas State.
For the fourth time in their last five matches, Texas State had double-digit blocks as a team. Aside from Hilbun's six, Calhoun finished with five and both Melissa Toth and Rachel James added three.
Texas State now has one home match remaining in its 2011 schedule. The Bobcats will welcome Baylor to Strahan Coliseum on Tuesday, November 1 for Senior Night beginning at 6:30 p.m. The match will be the first opportunity for Texas State to reach 1,000 wins in the program's history.
