TURNING THE PAGE

New chapter to begin for Bobcats this season

The Bobcats hit the volleyball court last Monday for an intersquad scrimmage in front of the Texas State faithful, in preparation for the 2023 season.

Replacing what is considered to be one of the most decorated senior classes in program history, defensive specialist Jacqueline Lee is ready to start the season with her teammates.

“There are a lot of new girls and faces on the team,” Lee said. “But it is really exciting to see our camaraderie and friendship blossoming on top of our court play. It’s exciting to see what we can do in the offseason, and how we are going to perform this season.”

After practicing hard during a two-a-day practice, head coach Sean Huiet said he was excited to see his team compete against one another during the scrimmage.

“It was fun to put on the jersey and get ready for the season,” Huiet said. “We have a new squad but it’s been a long week. … We have been doing two-adays and going pretty hard, because we are so young and new. So, it was refreshing to see them relax for a bit and not be in a training mode.”

One of the newcomers this year is graduate senior K.J. Johnson.

Transferring from Hartford University in Connecticut, Johnson, who is a native of Pearland, Texas, is excited and ready to join the Bobcats on their quest for another Sun Belt Championship.

“I’ve been really getting after it,” Johnson said. “I appreciate everyone’s effort and hustle. Just putting in the work every single day. I feel that we are showing it on the court.”

Though the talk about the program has been replacing a decorated senior class, featuring Janell Fitzgerald, Emily DeWalt, and Lauren Teske, Lee said she isn’t concerned about the past, but rather the future.

“There is no replacing Emily or Janell,” Lee said. “There is only coming in with our new players. We need our next Sam, next KJ, next Brook. It’s not about who’s going to be the next Emily or Janell or Lauren, but rather who can rise to that next occasion. People are going to see that we lost a big core of people, but I love it that people see us that way. We can just go out there and start banging balls. We are physical and we are hungry, with us losing two years in a row.

Even though Johnson joined the team this year, the outside hitter still feels what the Texas State program is all about.

“The same effort, culture and standard is still here,” Johnson said. “That is what makes it exciting, because people can leave but you can’t change the standard of the team. If we can just keep working on that, we can be at the same level.”

As for Huiet, the standard at Texas State will forever be the same, while also pushing the Bobcats to the next mountain top.

“Texas State volleyball has been really good for a long time,” Huiet said. “So, we have talked about that with this group a lot. We’ve won our division six years in a row, and qualified for the finals, six years in a row, before that (senior) group was here. The group was a special class which we know of and there is no replacing them. So, what we are doing is taking this program to another level.”

One of the drivers for this season is the Bobcats missing out on the NCAA Tournament.

After falling to James Madison in the Sun Belt Tournament Final, the Bobcats were left on the bubble in the selection process.

“We have kids that know what that bus ride was like, coming home when we lost,” Huiet said. “We want to get back there to the championship game and win it. This group has been so much fun and they have embraced it. People are going to ask questions. … We have focused on Texas State volleyball. It’s where our program is and where we want to be.”

In turn, that has become the message for the team.

“Our slogan is “Leave No Doubt,” because people are doubting us,” Huiet said. “They don’t know us and who is going to be on the court. There is no pressure because we can play at that level.”

As Huiet explained, the Bobcats are out for revenge.

“We don’t want there to be any doubt, we’re in the NCAA Tournament,” Huiet said. “We left it in someone else’s hands last year, and the committee didn’t choose us. This year we are going to leave no doubt, meaning we have to win the Sun Belt, win the conference tournament and we need significant wins. That’s been our motto.”

coltonbmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc