University Star

The Texas State volleyball team will hit the road for a two game trip versus Louisiana Tech University and the University of Texas-Arlington this weekend.

The Bobcats, who have already clinched a spot in the WAC conference tournament, beat both teams earlier this season and are looking to improve their seeding.

“I think (it is most important) to build some momentum going into the conference tournament,” said Coach Karen Chisum. “I think it’s real important to get both of these wins on the road. It’d be nice to finish up as the fourth or fifth seed and not the seventh or eighth.  We’ve got a lot of pride and our goal is to win each of the last five matches we play.”

First the team will travel to play the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters at Thomas Assembly Center. The Bobcats currently lead the all-time series between the two teams 5-2 and swept Louisiana Tech 3-0 in their first meeting of the season. When the two teams met earlier this season, the Bobcats hit .294 as a unit. Junior outside hitter Amari Deardorff led the way with her 16-kill, .455 hitting percentage performance.

Senior setter Caleigh McCorquodale said despite the Lady Techsters’ low ranking in the WAC, she and her teammates will have to give it all they have to get the win.

“We have played really good games this season, and we have played really not very good games this season, and so we come in approaching every game one at a time every week,” McCorquodale said. “LA Tech has been struggling a little bit in the WAC, but they have definitely taken some teams to five and played really well and even against us they played really well.”

Last week the Bobcats started off the weekend with their most efficient game of the season versus Seattle University, which translated to a four set victory. Without that efficiency, they were unable to score a victory in Saturday’s game versus the University of Idaho, hitting .088 for the match. That loss stopped their four-game winning streak.

The last time the Bobcats battled UTA, Chisum said the team played one of its best sets of the seasons. McCorquodale earned a double-double with a team-high 25 assists to go along with 12 digs versus UTA.

“UTA is always a good team for us to play because they were in the Southland too. That competitiveness between us will never go away no matter what conference we’re in because we played them for so many years,” McCorquodale said. “This will be the first time playing them in their new gym and they beat New Mexico in four. We’re just trying to come in and play (our) best.”

As McCorquodale and the team finish out the season, she and the other seniors are looking to lead the Bobcats to a strong finish.

“With there only being five games left, me, Danielle (Sanchou) and Patti (Bradshaw) are trying to really lead this team and have them play, if not for themselves, then for each other and end this season well,” McCorquodale said.

The first of the team’s last five regular season games will take place 7 p.m. on Thursday against LA Tech. Texas State will arrive at the College Park Center for a 2 p.m. start time Saturday in Arlington.

Follow Jordan Cole on Twitter: @TXStatesman