University Star

This weekend the Texas State Volleyball team took on the University of Idaho and Seattle University as WAC Tournament seeding begins to take shape.

Caleigh McCorquodale, senior setter, sets up an offensive play against Seattle University. Texas State prevailed with a 3-1 victory in the team’s Bobcats Fight Against Breast Cancer match Oct. 25 at Strahan Coliseum.

The Bobcats came out on Thursday and captured a four set victory over Seattle U, but could not produce the same kind of offensive firepower against the Idaho Vandals, falling in three straight sets to the third ranked team in the WAC.

Against Seattle U, the Bobcats played their best ball on the offensive attack according to Coach Karen Chisum—at least for three-fourths of the match.

“That game was one of our best offensive performances on the season, no doubt, so I was very pleased, with the exception for that third set when we should’ve swept them of course,” Chisum said. “I’ll give credit to Seattle though. They fought back. I was really trying to give every one some experience.”

Senior setter Caleigh McCorquodale said, with her career winding down, every game is being played at a premium, and she hopes to lift her team’s level of play with her encouragement.

“Coming in we were really motivated,” McCorquodale said. "Me as a senior, I only have six games left. I’m trying to lead every one, and I’m just really excited. We’re always a team that comes on at the end anyways, and so I think it’s really good to get these wins."

The Bobcats attained their two widest margins of victory in the first two sets at 25-11 and 25-10. Sophomore blocking specialist Molly Ahrens jokingly said they were trying to hold the Redhawks to single digits in the third set. However, they came out flat.

“We were saying in the locker room that we were trying to hold them to single digits and get the sweep, but the third set there was no energy,” Ahrens said. “We were really dead.  We didn’t have as much communication, and that’s one thing about the team we have to have a lot of—energy. If not, we can fall apart really easily.”

Setting was key and was the reason the team was able to reach a plus .450 hitting percentage on the match, according to Ahrens.

“(McCorquodale, Gonzales and Mahoney)did an awesome job,” Ahrens said. “The sets were perfect about every single time. I couldn’t really complain.”

Right after the game, Chisum began to look forward to Saturday for their match versus an Idaho team that was ranked in the upper echelon of the WAC.

“Saturday we’re going to come out strong against Idaho,” Chisum said. “I know they are a very good team and placed high in conference. That’ll be a big match. We lost to them in five at their place last time.”

Despite Chisum and the rest of the Bobcats’ intentions, the team was not able to accomplish the feat and avenge their five set loss earlier this season, falling in three sets. In the first set, Idaho narrowly escaped 25-23, but had an easier time in the second and third sets, 25-15 and 25-18, respectively.

Idaho finished with 15 blocks and only allowed the Bobcats 37 kills.

The Bobcats fell to 12-12 overall and 7-6 in the WAC with the loss, while Idaho improved to 11-12 overall and 9-4 in conference. The loss dropped Texas State's record at home to 6-2, ending a four game home winning streak, with two matches remaining at Strahan Coliseum this season.

Texas State heads to Louisiana Tech University on Thursday followed by a match at the University of Texas-Arlington on Saturday.

Follow Jordan Cole on Twitter: @TXStatesman