SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team is currently in its first week of fall camp and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll Tuesday afternoon that featured the Bobcats receiving six votes.
The maroon and gold are gearing up for the 2019 campaign that will begin Aug. 30 with a noon match vs. Liberty and a 7 p.m. tilt vs. No. 14 USC at Strahan Arena. The opening weekend will conclude at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 vs. Northern Iowa.
“Our attitude is great, team chemistry is great, and this group has come in as good of physical conditioning that I have seen in a long time. Hats off to Mark Steele and the rest of our strength and conditioning staff,” said head coach Karen Chisum. “Bobcats like to maul, and we have a point system in place to earn the title mauler. We already have 14 maulers. Last year at this time we had five so physically, they have come in great shape. Now with the ball, it is early. We have seen some good things but of course we see many things that we need to get better at.”
Texas State will square off with five clubs that are mentioned in the AVCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll headlined by No. 14 USC and No. 20 Baylor. Northern Iowa tallied 13 votes, UCLA gathered seven votes, and Rice joins the Bobcats with six nods.
“I think we earned the respect that we are getting nationally,” said Chisum. “People remember what we did last season and it is really a pat on our back. However, last year is in the past and we have to do it now. We have very good opponents on our schedule and if we can surprise and beat a couple of these programs, it will further validate the reason for us receiving those six votes.”
The Bobcats are the heavy favorites in the Sun Belt Conference after receiving 12 first-place votes in the West Division, while also sweeping the league’s specialty accolades with senior Cheyenne Huskey named the 2019 Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, senior Micah Dinwiddie the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and sophomore Emily DeWalt tabbed as the 2019 Preseason Setter of the Year. Joining the trio on the 2019 Sun Belt Preseason team is sophomore Janell Fitzgerald.
Texas State had a monumental season in 2018, finishing 27-7 overall and won its first Sun Belt regular-season title behind a 15-1 conference mark. The Bobcats went on to win the Sun Belt tournament and won their first NCAA Tournament match in program history by defeating Rice in the first round before falling to then- No. 5 Texas. TXST finished the season with a program-best No. 22 RPI ranking.
“We have a very competitive schedule, but for us to be at the level we want, that is what we have to do,” added Chisum. We got there [NCAA Tournament] last year and I hope we can continue by taking another step forward. Our pre-conference schedule will tell us where we are, and I know that the kids, staff, and myself are excited.
Fans will have 16 opportunities to see the reigning Sun Belt Champions in action at Strahan Arena. After the opening weekend, the Bobcats will face Rice at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 and will return home for the annual Creeds & Crests Classic Sept. 19-21 that will feature matches against UTSA, George Washington, and Sam Houston State. The Bobcats conference home opener will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27 vs. Louisiana.
Season tickets are general admission and are on sale now for $50. Special groups such as Bobcat Club donors, Texas State faculty and staff, recent alumni (2016-19) and T-Association members can receive a special discounted rate of $40 per season ticket.
Fans can renew their seats by logging into their online account at txstatebobcats.com/tickets, calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 512-245-2272, or by visiting the Athletic Ticket Office at Bobcat Stadium during normal business hours (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.).
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