April 16, 2024

TexAnns take care of UTPB in four

Tarleton hosts West Texas A&M at 2 p.m. Saturday

October 29, 2016 Brad Keith Sports, zAS-Tarleton, zAS-Top 0

texanns-utpb-vb-feature — True freshman Alexis Applewhite made a significant contribution to a four-set Tarleton State victory over UT-Permian Basin Friday evening at Wisdom Gym. || Photo by Dr. CHET MARTIN

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TarletonSports.com

STEPHENVILLE (October 28, 2016) – Welcome home, Alexis Applewhite.

Applewhite, a true freshman in just her second collegiate match and first in front of the Wisdom Gym faithful, powered down 11 kills – second only to Hailey Roberts‘ 19 – with just one error on 24 swings for a .417 hitting percentage as the TexAnns blasted UT Permian Basin for their 19^th win of the season.

Tarleton opened up in a tight battle, which included trailing by two at 12-14 before Roberts answered the call.

The junior All-American’s first kill of the night came on the 27th point of the opening set and started a run of four consecutive points for the TexAnns to put Tarleton up 16-14 and force the Falcons into a timeout. Out of the break, UTPB evened the score at 16-16 before the TexAnns went on a 9-3 run down the stretch to take the opening set 25-19.

The Falcons came out swinging to the tune of a 6-3 lead in the second set, but a kill shot from Rebecca Dauenhauer turned the tide and started a 6-1 Tarleton run that was capped with back-to-back Applewhite kills to force the Falcons into a timeout at 9-7.

Tarleton maintained its lead, never leading by less than two, through a 21-19 lead on the set’s 40^thpoint before a kill from Hannah McManus started a set-clinching 4-1 run for the TexAnns.

After UTPB staved off an early exit with a 26-24 win in the third set, the TexAnns wasted little in disposing of the Falcons in the fourth set. Michaela Rodriguez opened it up with a service ace, which ultimately led to Tarleton maintaining a lead through 14-12.

Roberts opened the flood gates with a kill that made it 15-12 and then she served up six straight Tarleton points to extend the lead to 21-12. The TexAnns went on to win the set 25-14 and the match 3-1.

Behind Roberts and Applewhite, Hannah McManus (9) and Autumn Taylor (7) combined for 16 kills while Jordyn Keamo dished out 40 assists to go along with 17 digs for her 12^th double-double of the season. Adrianna Knutson led the way with 22 digs while Roberts added 10 digs on the night for a double-double effort as well.

The TexAnns will return to action tomorrow at 2 p.m. against West Texas A&M in Wisdom Gym.