CANYON – No. 20 Tarleton Volleyball continued its hot start to Lone Star Conference play as the TexAnns went on the road and topped West Texas A&M 3-1 (18-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-20).
The TexAnns improved to 10-2 overall and are now the only undefeated team remaining in the LSC at 4-0. The TexAnns have now won eight of the last 10 matches against the Lady Buffs.
Tarleton recorded a .201 hitting percentage while holding the Lady Buffs to a .165 clip. The TexAnns were a force at the net, blocking 14 WT attacks and limiting the Lady Buffs to only three blocks. Hannah McManus led the TexAnns with eight blocks alone. The TexAnns also registered nine service aces.
Adriana Darthuy posted a game-high 14 kills while Elizabeth Muliaga added eight kills and McManus and Lauren Kersey each logged seven kills each.
The TexAnns came out flat in the opening set where their only lead was at 3-2 and the Lady Buffs would control the rest of the set.
However, things would turn the rest of the match for the TexAnns. After splitting the first 26 points in the second set, the TexAnns reeled off nine of the next 10 points to go up 22-14. Leading 23-17, Darthuy slammed home a kill and Blanca Izquierdo delivered one of her three aces for the final point to even the match at 1-1.
In the third set, the TexAnns jumped out in front early and never trailed. A 4-0 run pushed the TexAnn lead to 9-5 thanks to back-to-back aces from Kayla Brannon. The freshman posted a game-high four aces in the match and also recorded 18 assists. Tarleton’s lead grew to 15-8 off a 6-1 run. WT got to within three at 23-20, but the TexAnns took the final two points with Kersey’s kill clinching the set.
A mid-set run lifted the TexAnns to victory in the third set. The teams were tied at 9-9 before Tarleton landed the next six points for a 15-9 lead. Once again, the Lady Buffs battled to within three points in their comeback bid, but the TexAnns proved to be too much as kills from Muliaga, Darthuy, McManus and Kersey down the stretch gave the TexAnns the win.
The defense was the turning point for the TexAnns and they were led by Adrianna Knutson, who had a game-high 29 digs in the match.
The TexAnns will travel to Portales, New Mexico to take on Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. CST.
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