TexAnns overcome errors, early deficit for sixth straight win

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Tarleton State made it six straight wins Saturday. || Courtesy Tarleton Athletic Communications

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(October 3, 2015) — Tarleton State won its sixth consecutive match Saturday, overcoming an early deficit to in four win at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 24-26, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20.

It was a day of overcoming for Tarleton, which joins Cameron and Angelo State in a three-way tie for second a half game back of Texas Woman’s in the log-jammed Lone Star Conference standings. The TexAnns host Cameron at 6 p.m. next Friday.

The TexAnns had to overcome 49 total errors, including 34 on the attack, and did not play national kills per set leader Hailey Roberts after the eighth point of the three set. She already had 11 kills and nine digs at that point, but also committed 12 attack errors with a negative hitting percentage.

The TexAnns also had to overcome dropping the first set when a TAMUK kill and a Roberts attack error gave broke a 24-24 tie and gave the Javelinas the early lead in the match. Roberts had seven kills but also seven errors in the first.

Tarleton bounced back by finishing the second on a  4-1 run to break a 21-21 tie. A kill by senior middle Kenya Alexander began the run before three TAMUK errors.


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Roberts had two early kills then committed consecutive attack errors to give TAMUK a 5-3 lead in the third, and the sophomore sensation left the court and did not return.

Tarleton played well in her absence however, using a 4-0 run that concluded with an ace by freshman Adriana Knutson to break a 10-10 tie on their way to taking a 2-1 lead in the match.

Tarleton claimed fourth with a 7-3 run to turn a one-point lead into a commanding 19-13 advantage. TAMUK closed the gap to 23-20 before a kill by Zcache Mathis brought up match point and another by Alexander cemented the win.

Star setter Chandler Gow played only the opening set for Tarleton. Gow is the reigning LSC Setter of the Week, while Roberts is the league’s hitter of the week.

Abby Mackey took the place of Roberts and had six kills and a .308 hitting percentage. Macie Walker replaced Gow and racked up 34 assists after Gow opened with 14.

But it was Alexander that led the way. The LSC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year had 13 kills, three blocks and three digs, herself overcoming 10 attack errors.

Seniors Kelsey Raglin and Meg Umbel each had nine kills and combined for just one error. Raglin also had 12 digs and was in on four total blocks. Umble was part of seven blocks.

Tarleton last won six straight from October 14 to October 31 of last season. They won nine straight from October 6 to October 26 in 2012.

After the showdown with Cameron Friday, the TexAnns will be home again on Saturday, October 10, when they host Midwestern State at 2 p.m.


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