UNBLEMISHED START: Roberts, TexAnns defeat four regional foes

Hailey Roberts smile — Tarleton sophomore and reigning All-American Hailey Roberts had four straight double-doubles to lead Tarleton State to four straight wins at the Kathleen Brasfield Angelo State Invitational Friday and Saturday. || Courtesy Tarleton Athletic Communications

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(September 5, 2015) — All-American Hailey Roberts is on fire, and so is Tarleton State (4-0), which won four straight matches in the season-opening Kathleen Brasfield Invitational in San Angelo Friday and Saturday.

The first 4-0 start since 2010 gives Tarleton 300 wins as a member of the NCAA, but anyone familiar with the workings of Division II will tell you the bigger news is four straight wins against regional opponents.

Roberts recorded a career-best 32 kills in the season opener Friday, and finished the two-day Kathleen Brasfield ASU Invitational in San Angelo with 102 points, 87 kills, 44 digs, 12 blocks and nine aces in the four matches and has a .386 hitting percentage. Four straight double-doubles give the sophomore 21 in her career.

The TexAnns needed four sets each in Friday wins over Chadron State (Neb.) (30-28, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21) and Newman (Okla.) (25-13, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17) before sweeping Saturday action against Texas Permian (25-10, 25-20, 25-12) and Western New Mexico (27-25, 25-22, 25-23).

The TexAnns bring their unblemished mark home to Wisdom Volleyball Gym on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. bout against Division III Howard Payne.

Roberts had 32 kills, 11 digs, three aces and three blocks against Chadron State, which Tarleton outscored 85-66 overall. Two other TexAnns also had career bests – Chandler Gow with 53 assists and Kelsey Raglin with 13 kills.

Louisiana Tech transfer Xzache Mathis added 11 kils for the TexAnns while reigning Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year Kenya Alexander made seven kills and three blocks. Ayssa Garcia made 16 digs.

Roberts had her 11th career 20-kill per formance with 23 against Newman. Alexander also dominated at the net with 10 kills and eight blocks while Gow had 36 assists and Garcia 14 digs.

Roberts was good for 17 kills, 12 digs and four blocks while Meg Umbel made seven blocks, Gow 29 assists, Garcia 15 digs and Adrianna Knutson 14 digs against UTPB.

All three sets were close against Western New Mexico, the only opponent to post a better hitting percentage than Tarleton (.128 to .073). Tarleton was led by who else, Roberts. The LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year made 15 kills, 11 digs and 4 ace, while Mathis had 10 kills, Alexander five blocks and four kills, Umbel four blocks, Gow 33 assists and six sigs and Garcia 13 digs.