Texas State Bobcats (9-5, 0-0 SLC) vs. UTSA Roadrunners (6-8, 0-0 SLC)
Date: Thursday, September 22
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Site: San Marcos, Texas - Strahan Coliseum
Live Streaming: www.txstatebobcats.com
Radio: www.txstatebobcats.com & 89.9 KTSW
Live Stats: www.txstatebobcats.com
Texas State Bobcats (9-5, 0-0 SLC) vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (8-7, 0-0 SLC)
Date: Saturday, September 24
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Site: San Marcos, Texas - Strahan Coliseum
Live Streaming: www.txstatebobcats.com
Radio: www.txstatebobcats.com & 89.9 KTSW
Live Stats: www.txstatebobcats.com
Game Notes
San Marcos, Texas – The I-35 rivalry between Texas State and UTSA will be renewed on Thursday evening when the Bobcats welcome the Roadrunners to San Marcos for both team's first conference match of the 2011 season. The Bobcats will then play host to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday to conclude the team's first weekend of Southland Conference action.
Thursday's match will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Strahan Coliseum, while Saturday's match will start at 2 p.m. Doors to Strahan Coliseum will open one our prior to the start of each match.
The Bobcats enter conference play with a 9-5 overall record after going 3-0 this past weekend at the Mean Green Invitational to capture the tournament championship. Meanwhile, UTSA begins Southland play with a 6-8 record after playing a highly competitive non-conference schedule, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is 8-7 following their preconference slate.
Tickets for both matches are available in advance through the Texas State Athletics Ticket Office and can be purchased online or by calling 512-245-2272. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Fans unable to attend can follow along with both matches through the Texas State Athletics website, www.txstatebobcats.com. Streaming video, radio and live stats will all be available for both matches, which can also be heard locally in San Marcos on 89.9 KTSW.
Notes:
Versus This Week's Opponents
Texas State has won each of the past five meetings against UTSA, including both games last season by scores of 3-1. The Bobcats maintain a 49-10 all-time record versus the Roadrunners and have won each of the past eight home matches against UTSA, with the team's last loss coming on September 17, 2002 when UTSA won 3-2 at Strahan Coliseum.
The Bobcats have never lost to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 14 matches. The team swept both meetings versus the Islanders a season ago and has defeated them in three sets eight times since the two teams began playing in 2001.
Opening Conference Play
The Bobcats have won each of that past four conference openers, including last year against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Texas State's last loss to begin conference play was in 2006 when the Bobcats lost to UT Arlington, 3-1. The last time that Texas State lost a Southland Conference home opener was in 2004, also against UT Arlington.
Mean Green Invitational All-Tournament Team
Senior Amber Calhoun was named the MVP of the Mean Green invitational and sophomore Rachel James earned Mean Green Invitational All-Tournament Team accolades. For the tournament, Calhoun led the Bobcats with 27 kills (3.00/set) and 10 blocks (1.11/set). The middle blocker also posted a .362 hitting percentage along with contributing 15 digs (1.67/set). James started as an outside hitter for the Bobcats for the first time in her career and made the most of the opportunity, posting 25 kills (2.78/set) with a .426 hitting percentage on the offensive end. The sophomore also chipped in with five blocks for the weekend, while also setting a career high with 11 kills in the team's game against Kennesaw State after making her second start of the season at outside hitter.
