by JASON GORDON
The Texas State volleyball team snapped a three-game losing skid on Saturday evening in Seattle, as the Bobcats swept Seattle University in three straight sets (25-17, 25-21, 27-25) at the Connolly Center.
The win was the first road conference win of the season for the Bobcats and marked the first time a Western Athletic Conference opponent has swept the Redhawks.
The win was a historic one, No. 750 for Bobcat head coach Karen Chisum, the sixth winningest active head coach in NCAA Division I.
“It’s all about the kids and the staff,” Chisum said. “When the match was over I had actually forgot about it. The players reminded me and we were all excited. We’re signing a ball today to put in the trophy case. I’ve done this quite awhile and all I’m worried about right now is win 751, but I certainly hope I eventually get to wins 800, 850 and 900 because this is something I still love doing.”
An 8-0 run midway through the first set behind the serving of Sierra Smith turned a 12-11 Seattle advantage into a 19-12 Bobcat lead and propelled Texas State to the first-set win. Smith had two aces during the run that put the team ahead by seven. Seattle U came back within five, but the Bobcats used three kills late from Ashlee Hilbun and an ace from Laura Whalen to take the first set 25-17.
In the second set, Texas State again turned a 12-11 Seattle advantage into a Bobcat lead as the team rattled off four straight points on Alexandra Simms’ serve to take a 15-12 lead. Texas State would not trail from that point forward in the set, maintaining a two-point advantage for the majority of the set before closing it out on a 4-1 run that gave the ’Cats a two-set lead.
Texas State trailed 16-10 midway through the third set, but the Bobcats battled back to tie the score at 22-22. The teams would exchange points until 25-25 when a kill from Texas State’s Morgan McDaniel followed by a Redhawks attack error gave the Bobcats the third set and the sweep.
“It was a great win for the Bobcats tonight,” said Chisum. “I think it was our best blocking match of the year. It was a win we needed desperately.”
Hilbun led Texas State at the net with six blocks, while Molly Ahrens had five blocks (two solo, three assists) – two of which came in the last four points of the match.
Whalen led the back row defense with her seventh match of at least 10 digs this season. The sophomore finished with 13 digs to lead all players.
Offensively, Simms’ 11 kills led the way for the team, while Deardorff added nine and Hilbun had eight kills for the Bobcats.
Caleigh McCorquodale and Ali Gonzales split setting duties and finished with 17 and 16 assists respectively for Texas State.
The win moves Texas State’s record to 7-9 overall and 2-3 in the WAC, while Seattle dropped to 6-10 overall and 1-5 in conference action.
Texas State will return to San Marcos for its next two matches at Strahan Coliseum as the team continues WAC play. The Bobcats will square off against familiar foe UT Arlington on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. before playing Louisiana Tech on Saturday at 2 p.m.
