Texas State Defeats UTSA to Win Southland Conference Volleyball Championship
CONWAY, Ark. - In the championship match of the 2011 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament, No. 1 seed Texas State claimed its seventh tournament title by knocking off No. 2 seed UTSA, 3-1 (25-20, 25-22, 16-25, 25-17), at the Farris Center in Conway, Ark. The Bobcats won its 18th consecutive match against a conference opponent, dating back to Sept. 22, when it last lost to UTSA. The Bobcats improve to 27-7 on the year while the Roadrunners conclude their season at 22-11.
Texas State showed little fatigue from last night's five-set battle and came out firing in the opening set, earning a 25-20 win. The Bobcats, who led the entire set, were paced by senior Lindy DeGeare's four kills on the offensive side and Amber Calhoun's two solo blocks and one block assist on the defensive end. The Roadrunners trailed by as much as eight points and closed within one at 18-17, but they couldn't get any closer in large part due to 6-1 Bobcats' run at that point. Sophomore McKenzie Adams recorded five kills, two digs, one block solo and one block assist in the set for UTSA.
Trailing 21-22 in the second set, Texas State came out of a timeout to rally and score the next four points to take the 2-0 set advantage with the 25-22 win. The set was highlighted with 11 ties with most of them coming late in the set. Sophomore Amari Deardorff recorded five kills for the Bobcats while sophomore Ashlee Hilbun added four kills to go along with her five digs, one assist and one block assist. Leading the way for the Roadrunners was once again Adams, who had six kills on 11 attempts for a .455 hitting percentage. She also had two digs and one block assist in the set.
UTSA controlled the third set from the beginning to win, 25-16. The Roadrunners led comfortably the entire way after jumping out to a 6-1 lead to open the third frame. Junior Kelsey Schwirtlich dished out 13 assists for the Roadrunners while freshman Dempsey Thorton connected on five of those assists for kills. The Bobcats could not get the offense going in the set, totaling only five kills and a -.059 hitting percentage as a team.
Texas State rebounded in the fourth set to pull away with the scored tied 11-11 to win the clinching set, 25-17. After not being able to get anything going in the third set, the Bobcats connected for a .389 team hitting percentage with 19 kills. Hilbun tallied five fills while Calhoun and Melissa Toth each had four. Adams led the Roadrunners in the fourth set with five kills on seven attempts for a .714 attack percentage.
For the match, Calhoun hit a strong .450 percent while collecting 12 digs on 20 attempts. She also had six digs, six block assists and two block solos for the match. Hilbun recorded a double-double for the Bobcats with 11 kills and 11 digs to go along with an assist, ace and block assist. Adams paced the Roadrunners with her 17-kill effort in the championship match.
Texas State placed three players on the all-tournament team, including tournament MVP Calhoun. Joining Calhoun on the tournament honors were Hilbun and junior Caleigh McCorquodale. UTSA was represented by Adams and senior Kelsey Jewasko. Sam Houston State senior Carli Kolbe earned the final spot on the all-tournament team.
Texas State earns the Southland Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament for the fifth time in eight years. The last time Texas State was in the NCAA tournament, the Bobcats fell to Texas in three sets in 2009. The Bobcats learn its postseason fate on Nov. 27, when the NCAA announces the field of 64 on ESPNU at 5 p.m., CT. The opening round matches of the tournament will take place Dec. 1st and 2nd on selected campus sites.
2011 Southland Conference All-Tournament Team
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Carli Kolbe
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Sr.
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OH
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Sam Houston State
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Kelsey Jewasko
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Sr.
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L
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UTSA
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McKenzie Adams
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So.
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OH
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UTSA
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Caleigh McCorquodale
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Jr.
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S
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Texas State
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Ashlee Hilbun
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So.
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MB
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Texas State
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Amber Calhoun
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Sr.
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MB
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Texas State
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Tournament MVP: Amber Calhoun, Texas State