University Star

The team did not lose a single set all weekend against the competition and is now over .500 (4-3) for the first time this season going into the game against Baylor (5-1) Tuesday, Sept. 4.

Coach Karen Chisum said she was very proud of the results the team achieved last weekend. Chisum also said she was glad to continue seeing signs of progress as the season continues to unfold.

“I thought we did a great job on first contact, which we talk a lot about,” Chisum said. “It sets up what we want to do on offense, and we did it more consistent this weekend. I think we also found a really nice flow through Caleigh McCorquodale. She really stepped up this weekend and ran the offense.”

Senior setter Caleigh McCorquodale had an impressive showing on the weekend. She averaged 9 assists, 2.89 digs and 1 kill per set while collecting her second double-double in a week against Tulane, in which she finished with 33 assists and 13 digs.

For all her contributions she earned MVP of the tournament and Player of the Week in the Western Athletic Conference, the first ever Texas State Bobcat to do so.

Junior middle blocker Ashlee Hilbun and sophomore outside hitter Alexandra Simms also had standout performances on the weekend, earning all-tournament honors.

The Bobcats are deep at the setting position, which is important for any team. A good setter knows how to read the floor and where to distribute the ball to create favorable matchups.

“It’s kind of like our football team, who keep going back with (Tyler) Arndt and (Shaun) Rutherford — two very good quarterbacks,” Chisum said. “(The question is) who’s going to run the show the best on what day, and this weekend it was Caleigh.”

The kinds of favorable matchups created through good setting will be instrumental on Tuesday against Baylor, which has a stronger record than any team the Bobcats came across this weekend. Baylor also has some momentum after their victory over No. 25 Cal Berkley.

“Baylor is a great team,” Chisum said. “We have to be consistent, Caleigh is going to have to outsmart their middle blocker, and we have to play
great defense.”

McCorquodale said she feels confident in the team against Baylor and said having this difficult preseason schedule only helps the team to grow to its set standard.

“Our coaches always set a tough preseason schedule for us and this season we started out 0-3 and came back and really tried to re-focus and set our minds on the things that we wanted to work on,” McCorquodale said. “So in practice we’ve been working really hard to accomplish those and each game has been building up to where we want to be.”

Last season the Bobcats took the Bears into the fifth and final set before surrendering their chance at victory. McCorquodale said this win would be just what the doctor prescribed for the team.

“It would be a huge win for us,” McCorquodale said. “Last year we took Baylor to five (sets) so we know we can do it. We’re just going to have to outwork them and outsmart them. They always have a good team and especially at their place. It will be a hard one but it’d be an awesome win to come away with.”

Baylor holds a 27-12-2 record against Texas State in 41 meetings. Texas State has not won in Waco since 1990. Play is set to begin in Waco at The Ferrell Center at 7 p.m.

Twitter: @TXStatesman