By Tyler Mayforth
San Marcos — Texas State is headed back to the NCAA volleyball tournament.
The Bobcats stormed through the Southland Conference postseason and clinched their sixth championship Sunday afternoon. Texas State beat Stephen F. Austin in four sets at the UTSA Convocation Center.
“This is insane,” Bobcats junior Mo Middleton said. “I’ve never been part of something like this and it’s amazing.”
Middleton paced Texas State to the title with a string of strong performances. The outside hitter sent the Lady ‘Jacks home with 18 kills and was named SLC tournament MVP.
She wasn’t alone, as the Bobcats dispersed the offense with four players tallying six or more kills.
“Texas State is so spread out on offense that it’s hard to get a read on them,” SFA head coach Debbie Humphreys said. “We tried to establish a pace early, but they wouldn’t let us.”
The Bobcats won the first two sets by the same score (25-20) and wanted to put it away in three. The Lady ‘Jacks had other ideas.
SFA jumped out early after intermission and denied Texas State the sweep. The Lady ‘Jacks concentrated their attack on the right side of the Bobcats’ block.
“They really changed things up on us in that third set,” Texas State head coach Karen Chisum said. “They used that No. 8 (Sabrina Burns) and we hadn’t seen her all year.”
The Bobcats regained their focus and solidified their block with Melinda Cave and Amber Calhoun. Texas State won the fourth and final set, 25-19.
Cave joined Middleton and Jessica Weynand on the All-SLC tournament team. Weynand had 12 kills and 15 digs for the Bobcats.
“This tournament was truly a complete team effort for us,” Chisum said. “Every kid who played had an important role for us this weekend.”
Texas State finds out its NCAA tournament opponent next Sunday. The Bobcats will most-likely head to Austin for another tilt with Texas.
