TV Broadcast Replay | Highlights | Calhoun Interview | McCorquodale Interview | Chisum Interview | Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

Conway, Ark. – For the eighth time in Texas State volleyball history, the Bobcats will be heading to the NCAA Tournament after defeating UTSA, 3-1, in the Southland Conference Tournament championship match to claim the team's seventh tournament title in the program's history.

The No. 1 seed Bobcats (27-7) won the tournament championship after taking home the regular season title last week, marking the fourth time in the program's history that the Bobcats have won both conference and tournament championships in the same season.

Senior Amber Calhoun was named the MVP of the tournament, while junior Caleigh McCorquodale and sophomore Ashlee Hilbun each earned all-tournament team honors as the Bobcats put an end to the Roadrunners' season.

“It was an all-around team effort,” Chisum said. “Our defense kept us around all game. UTSA is a really good team and it's a shame that someone had to lose, but I felt that we were the better team today.”

On Sunday, Texas State led the entire first set and fended off a UTSA rally before closing out the period with a 25-20 victory. The second set saw UTSA in front and in control for the majority before the Bobcats went on a late run to secure a 25-22 win and 2-0 advantage heading into intermission.

The third set was all UTSA from the outset as the Roadrunners delayed the inevitable with a 25-16 victory in the third set, but Texas State refocused in the fourth set to win going away, 25-17, after a kill from senior Lindy DeGeare gave the Bobcats a tournament championship in their final season in the Southland Conference.

 “In our huddles, we just kept saying that we have to play one point and a time,” Chisum said. “We never lost our cool.”

Calhoun, the 2011 Southland Conference Player of the Year, capped a phenomenal tournament with another standout match on Sunday. Calhoun put 11 of her 20 attempts down for kills offensively for a match-high .450 hitting percentage while also posting a match-high eight blocks on the defensive side of the net.

With her performance, Calhoun improved her career hitting percentage to .330, just .001 behind the Texas State record. She also moved into second in career total blocks (396) at Texas State and bettered her career block assists record to 324 for her career.

McCorquodale made it nine straight matches with a double-double after she handed out 40 assists to go along with a team-high 14 digs. She also added a career-high five blocks (one solo, four assists) on the afternoon.

After posting a career high for kills on Friday and a career high for blocks on Saturday, Hilbun flashed more of her skills on Sunday as she had 11 kills, a .346 hitting percentage and 11 digs for second double-double this season.

The Bobcats also received solid performances from sophomore Amari Deardorff, who led the team with 12 kills, and senior Rachel Doyle, who tallied 13 digs along with a number of great passes from UTSA serves.

Texas State now awaits its destination for the 2011 NCAA Tournament which will begin in two weeks. The Bobcats will host a viewing party for the NCAA Selection Show, which will take place at 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 27, in the Maroon & Gold Room in Strahan Coliseum.

Check back to www.TxStateBobcats.com for additional coverage and more information coming soon.