TexAnns to tassle with two

AT A GLANCE:
Tarleton is coming off one of its most impressive stretches of the season after defeating then No. 11-Angelo State on the road and sweeping West Texas A&M, who was in first place in the Lone Star Conference, followed by a sweep of UT Permian Basin. Now the first-place TexAnns look to keep the momentum going on the road. The TexAnns will play a pair of non-conference Heartland opponents on Friday in San Antonio, starting with Lubbock Christian at 1 p.m. and St. Mary’s at 4 p.m. The TexAnns will resume LSC action at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday at 2 p.m.

GAME COVERAGE:
Live stats and video will be available for every game. The links can be found on the Tarleton Volleyball schedule page at TarletonSports.com.

LAST TIME OUT:
For the first time since 2006, the TexAnns went on the road and defeated Angelo State. It was another top-25 matchup for the No. 17-ranked TexAnns, who topped the No. 11 Rambelles in four sets. It’s the fourth win of the season for the TexAnns over an AVCA top-25 team. The TexAnns also swept West Texas A&M for the second time in program history, followed by a sweep of UT Permian Basin.

IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT:
Tarleton Volleyball continues its run as a national ranked team as the TexAnns enter the weekend contests as the No. 15 team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. The TexAnns are the highest nationally ranked team in the Lone Star Conference. Tarleton’s first national ranking came in the final poll of the 2016 season when the TexAnns debuted at No. 25. They have been ranked in every release since – opening the season at No. 25, moving to No. 17 last week, No. 14 last week, which was the highest ranking in program history, followed by No. 17 last week.

CHASING HISTORY: THE DRIVE FOR 2405:
Hailey Roberts enters the weekend with 2,077 career kills and is on the heels of the Lone Star Conference kills record, which has been held by Central Oklahoma’s Alma Brahimaj since 2002. Brahimaj boasts 2,404 career kills during her 1999-02 tenure with the Bronchos.

SERIES HISTORY: LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN:
Tarleton is 11-17 all-time against Lubbock Christian dating back to the first match in 1985. The TexAnns won the last meeting in five sets back in Stephenville. This will be the 11^th neutral-site meeting between the two schools, having split the first 10 matches 5-5.

SERIES HISTORY: ST. MARY’S:
Friday will be series match number 20 between Tarleton and St. Mary’s since the first match in 1998. St. Mary’s holds the all-time lead at 12-7, but the TexAnns have won three straight against the Rattlers, all coming in a sweep. Tarleton is 2-5 all-time when playing at St. Mary’s.

SERIES HISTORY: TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE:
Tarleton and Texas A&M-Kingsville will meet for the 49th time in program history since the two teams first played in 1985. The TexAnns hold the series lead against the Javelinas, 27-21. The TexAnns have won 14 of the last 16 matches against TAMUK, including six sweeps during the stretch. Tarleton is 9-11 when playing in Kingsville.

UP NEXT FOR TARLETON:
Tarleton returns home next week to play a pair of Lone Star Conference matches against Cameron and Midwestern State. The TexAnns face Cameron on Friday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. and Midwestern on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m.