Bobcat volleyball looks to break SLC tied record with Lumberjacks

Oct 28 2009 - 8:04pm | Eric Harper

This weekend will be something to which they have all looked toward.

The Bobcat volleyball team will take on Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State in road matches Thursday and Saturday as it looks to inch closer to first place in the Southland Conference’s West Division.

The Bobcats are deadlocked with the Lumberjacks in the SLC standings, with each team holding a 6-3 SLC record. McNeese State is two games behind the Bobcats but holds an overall record of 16-7 this season.

“This is a huge stretch for us,” said Coach Karen Chisum. “It’s always hard to play at Nacogdoches. It’s always a battle.”

The Bobcats have taken three consecutive matches but are looking for signature road wins over leading SLC teams. Amber Calhoun, sophomore middle blocker, said the Bobcats are feeling well after recent success and are ready to get back on the court.

“The win streak has us on a good high,” Calhoun said.  “We know what we have to get done and we’re very motivated.”

The Bobcats’ three-match win streak has vaulted them into second place in the SLC West. Conference-leading Central Arkansas is not eligible to win the conference, which means the Bobcats are two games behind Sam Houston State for first place in the West and in the SLC. The Bobcats have run off an 11-4 stretch to even their record at 12-12 after beginning the season at 1-7. Chisum said the Bobcats have improved from their early season struggles.

“We’re in a good place right now,” Chisum said. “We’re playing better now than we did earlier in the season.”

The Bobcats have set aside portions of their practice time for focusing on the needs of each individual player. Calhoun said the different practice methods have been a key to the recent success of the team.

“Practices have become more efficient,” Calhoun said. “Everyone is a lot more confident in what they can do. We just got off to a slow start.”

The Bobcats have not won a game against an SLC opponent with a winning record this season. Chisum said the Bobcats must attack their opponents and play mistake-free with their next two matches against winning opponents.

“We have to reduce our errors and be aggressive,” Chisum said. “We have to go out to win, and we have to win the serving and passing game.”

The SLC has six teams within two games of one another in the standings, from Texas State and SFA at 6-3 to McNeese State and Texas-San Antonio at 4-5. The Bobcats have matches remaining with each of the other five teams in this grouping. Calhoun said the recent parity in the conference has the Bobcats anxious to keep their win streak alive.

“Our next match is our most important match,” Calhoun said. “We’re just excited to go out and keep winning.”

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