Welcome to the 2013 edition of Along the Chisum Trail where you will get insight into the Texas State women's volleyball program. Head Coach Karen Chisum and her players will chime in throughout the season to provide an inside look at the Bobcats. Be sure to check back frequently to stay current on all of the happenings of the 2013 season. Eat 'em up 'Cats!
September 16, 2013 - Senior Right Side, #3 Amari Deardorff
Wow! How the past two weeks have flown by! Since our home tournament we were forced to leave San Marcos. We hate having to leave our fans behind, but love that they either travel with us or follow us online! We took care of business in Huntsville but not before making time to tour the prison. It was definitely fun facing an old Southland foe and it gave all of our newcomers a taste of what it was like to play in someone’s gym.
After only a few more days in San Marvelous we hopped back on the bus to Denton for the North Texas Invitational. Although we did get our first and second loss of the season, we learned many valuable lessons as a team. The level of competition also increased, allowing us to see the types of teams we’ll have to beat to be successful in conference play (North Texas finished second in the Sun Belt last year).
Next, we came back home and played in front of our crowd! I can’t even begin to describe the adrenaline that we get playing in front of so many cheering fans. We’ll take any help from the fans we can get, and they definitely helped us on that Tuesday night. Beating Baylor at home will be one of the games I remember for the rest of my life. We’ve been so close in the past few years, but this year we had all the pieces to the puzzle. The last time the Bobcats had beaten the Bears was when I was four years old and more interested in tutus and ballet shoes than volleyballs!
We just got back from our last preseason tournament at University of Tulsa. Although we lost two matches, we still left with a good win over Arkansas. Sweeping the Razorbacks meant we had added a win over an SEC school to our resume, something that gets the Texas State name out there. We ended the trip with a long, but always entertaining, bus ride home. I was pretty disappointed that the DVD player started skipping about a third of the way through High School Musical 3.
This week our focus is on Texas Tech and UTSA. It would be awesome for us to get a second win over a Big 12 school, and I can’t emphasize enough how important our match against UTSA is to us. Come out and watch if you can!
September 2, 2013 - Senior Middle Blocker, #17 Molly Ahrens
Oh Fall Camp… a special time in the year for the Texas State volleyball team. This is a time of sore muscles, tired legs, countless ice baths, team meals, full days of volleyball, and a time of memories to be made. Surviving Fall Camp takes a special kind of Bobcat. Dedication, desire, heart, mental toughness and commitment is a MUST once the first practice commences.
It’s not easy resisting all the temptations going on around you to give up and give away to peer pressure to distract you from the court. But unlike other teams, my team believes in and displays these actions on and off the court to make each other the best we can be. A lot of blood, sweat and tears were all shed for the game we love, the game we strive to perfect… the game that unifies us together into one family.
We displayed this kind of commitment this past weekend when we got a taste of victory – winning the Delta Zeta Classic Tournament on our home court. We broke the streak, started in 2001, of having a losing opening weekend and came out champs with a 4-0 season opener.
We believed in each other and held every single person responsible, whether they saw the court or not. This kind of responsibility will be vital as the season continues, especially when we compete against our tougher opponents such as Baylor, Texas Tech, and Western Kentucky.
This being my final season with the Bobcats, I’ve never been as confident with my team as I am now. A lot of that comes with maturity and growing up, but each year our recruiting class seems to get better and bigger. With that comes a lot of talent. The new Bobcats on the team offer depth we haven’t had in a while.
The girls came in strong, knowing how to play the game. They have already improved both physically and mentally and are ready for competition. Much of it had to do with the fact that everyone reported to San Marcos the first week in July to start training for fall camp and the volleyball season.
This year, I see nothing less than a championship at stake and the chance to compete at the “Big Dance” (NCAA Tournament). This is the year for the Texas State Bobcats to shine again!
We head to SHSU Monday on Labor Day to compete on Tuesday for our first road match then immediately after head to Denton, Texas for our next preseason tournament. Join us on Sept. 10 for our home match against Baylor as they seek revenge for the win we stripped from them in the spring!
Go Bobcats!
August 20, 2013 - Head Coach Karen Chisum
Greetings, Bobcat Fans!
We are in day #10 of fall camp and have a very positive feeling about the season. As most of you know, we had 10 returners and 9 newcomers join us last week. The GREATEST thing for over the summer is that all newcomers reported to campus July 3 for summer school classes. Thus, all 19 have been here for over 6 weeks together and have bonded. Therefore, that has certainly put us "ahead" from where we were a year ago. The team chemistry is very good and we have more depth and competition in all positions!
Our three seniors ... Amari, Ashlee, and Molly ... are fired up! They have provided some great leadership and have established a high standard in our gym culture. They expect help from juniors Caylin and Alex who should both be the leaders in their respective positions. Freshmen newcomers Kelsey Weynand and Shelby Vas Matt have jumped in aggressively, and I expect both to have extensive playing time. Returning sophomores Sierra and Ali G have received accolades from the coaching staff as well.
Your first chance to see the Cats in action will be August 21, Wednesday, at "Meet the Cats". This is a fun evening with the Cats. At 5 p.m., we will run a few drills which will lead right into an intrasquad scrimmage beginning around 5:30. We will conclude this at 6:30 and have introductions and an interactive session with the fans. Light refreshments will be served. I invite you all to come out and get to know the 2013 version of the Bobcats!
Our first annual Delta Zeta Classic, Aug 30-31, will provide some great Division I volleyball play here in Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats will host four others: Houston, SMU, Lamar, and Quinnipiac. Matches will be held all day Friday and Saturday with the Bobcats’ first match at 11:30 a.m. Friday morning against our former Southland Conference rival, Lamar.
Also, mark your calendars for Sept. 10 when Baylor comes to San Marcos and Sept. 17 when the Red Raiders from Texas Tech ride into town to challenge the Bobcats.
I think it's going to be a GREAT season and a lot of fun. This year's team has a lot of personality, grins, and FIRE! I hope you will join us throughout the season. November and our last match will be here before you know it! Don't miss the 2013 Texas State Volleyball season! As I tell people, come once and i promise you will come back! It's fun, it's fast, and it's exciting!
See ya soon!
Coach Chisum
