University Star

The Texas State volleyball team embarks on a three-game road trip the next six days, facing the University of Denver, New Mexico State University and San Jose State University Oct. 11-15.

The Bobcats are no strangers to the road this season. Texas State played 10 of its first 11 games on the road to begin 2012, winning four of them. Texas State has outplayed its opponents by a set count of 11-2 since a change to a 6-2 formation and is looking to take that momentum out west.

“At practice we’ve been really working on not making the little errors that we made at the beginning of the season,” said senior setter Caleigh McCorquodale. “It really helps when our hitters are really growing and getting more experience. It was the little errors at the beginning that were killing us. They are gaining confidence.”

New Mexico State, who sports a 6-1 WAC conference record, trails conference leader Utah State by just half a game. However, Coach Karen Chisum understands the team cannot get ahead of themselves.

“We are going to concern ourselves with the match right in front of us, and right now it’s Denver,” Chisum said. “They are one of the best blocking teams in the conference. We just want to stay in a groove. We feel OK with ourselves.”

New Mexico State will be the Bobcats’ opponent Saturday, their first meeting of the season. The Aggies will have to travel to San Marcos Nov. 8, part of Texas State’s final regular season home stand.

Meredith Hays is currently second in the WAC in total points with 309.5. New Mexico State ranks in the top three in hitting percentage, assists, kills, blocks and service aces.

One of the goals for Texas State during its west coast swing will be to continue to come together as a team. Alexandra Simms, who ranks fifth in kills with 191, is the only player in the top five in any category in the WAC.

“If we are ever going to be successful, it’s going to be all the pieces of our puzzle working and fitting together at the same time,” said Amari Deardorff, junior right side hitter. “We are not a team that relies on one player, and we all need to work together to succeed.”

Texas State rounds out the road trip with a rare Monday game in Calif.  against the San Jose State Spartans. San Jose State is second in the conference in assists, kills and digs and has earned a 4-4 conference record up to this point, just a half game behind the Bobcats for fifth place.