STEPHENVILLE – For the first time in Tarleton State history, the Texans are 2-0 to open WAC play.
The Purple and White saw their sixth-straight win of the season after a sweep against the Redhawks to make the Texans 2-0 in conference.
In their second conference match of the season, the Purple and White compiled 57 digs, 44 kills, 39 assists, eight blocks and two aces. Rajini Fitzmaurice and Emma Burke led the team with eight kills each and Allison Bryant followed with seven of her own. Fitzmaurice and Megan Hodges each tallied an ace for Tarleton State.
Burke led the team with six blocks, Breanna McDonough compiled three and Grayson Schirpik saw two. Hodges continues to lead the team with 21 assists on the match and Melina Maldonado Ortiz earned 14. Matti Theurer racked up 17 digs on the match. Fitzmaurice saw 11 digs and Isabel Gonzaba compiled seven.
Tarleton State has an overall record of 11-5 and are 2-0 in conference. The Purple and White have won six consecutive matches which hasn’t been done since the 2020 season after the Texans defeated Dixie State 3-0.
In the first set, a kill from Arianna Bilby put up the first point for Seattle U. A block from McDonough and Burke saw Tarleton State earn their first point. A second kill from Bilby gave the Redhawks the lead but Burke responded with the first kill of the set for the Purple and White followed by an error from Seattle U to put the Texans up by one point. Naima Foster put down back-to-back kills for the Redhawks but Bryant laid down a kill for the Purple and White to even the score. The fifth point for Seattle U was claimed by Elif Teksoy with a kill but Bryant responded with her second kill of the set to tie the score at 5-5. Foster laid down another kill for the Redhawks to put the Texans down by one. Tarleton State saw a three consecutive points after an error from Seattle U, a block from Fitzmaurice and Burke and a kill from Schirpik to make the score 8-6. Errors from both sides and kills from each team made the set a back-and-forth battle. An error from the Redhawks put up point 11 for the Purple and White but a kill from Foster followed by some help from the Seattle U defense and an ace from Selin Isik put the Redhawks back in the lead, 13-11. Five more kills from Seattle U tallied their 18th point while three errors from the Redhawks and a kill from Schirpik saw point 15 for Tarleton State. Another kill from Schirpik began a second three-score run for the Purple and White in the set to even the score. Seattle U answered with a kill from Bilby, but McDonough matched the energy with a kill from the Texans followed by another kill from Burke. The Redhawks were first to point 20 with a kill from Bilby and an error from the Purple and White that added another for the Red and Black. Tarleton State saw a 21st point after a kill from Fitzmaurice. Marley Hardgrave regained the lead for Seattle U with a kill and a block from Yasemin Elmas and Teksoy saw the Redhawks up by two. A kill from Bryant and an error from Seattle U tied the set for the Texans. Foster put up the final point for the Red and Black. Schirpik laid down another kill and Madison Frank tallied a kill of her own for point 25. The frame ended with an error from the Redhawks to see a set final of 26-24.
Burke claimed the first point of the second stanza for Tarleton State with a kill. Seattle U saw the next two points with back-to-back kills from Hardgrave and Foster. McDonough put down a kill to start a three-score run for the Purple and White followed by two consecutive kills from Fitzmaurice to give the Texans the lead 4-2. A block from Elmas and Teksoy put the Redhawks ahead. A block from Schirpik and Burke started a four-score run to regain the lead for Tarleton State with two kills from Bryant and an ace from Hodges to put the Purple and White up, 11-9. A kill followed by an ace from Seattle U tied the frame but a kill from Burke changed the momentum and set the Texans on fire. Two kills from Burke, a kill from Fitzmaurice and another kill from McDonough accompanied by a block from McDonough and Burke gave Tarleton State a five-point lead. The Texans remained in control for the remainder of the stanza. Bilby put down two kills for points 18 and 19 for the Redhawks. A kill from Bryant and an error from Seattle U ended the set 25-19 with the Purple and White on top.
Tarleton State led throughout the entire third set after an error from the Redhawks and a kill from Fitzmaurice put up the first two points of the frame. The Texans were up by five when Seattle U saw four consecutive points with two kills from Bilby and two errors from the Purple and White closing the gap to a one-point deficit. Burke laid down another kill for point 19 but Hardgrave responded with the 18th point for the Redhawks. Tarleton State answered with a five-score run consisting of an error from Seattle U, kills from Burke and McDonough, a service ace from Fitzmaurice and a block from McDonough and Burke to make the score 24-18. An error from the Purple and White added another point for the Redhawks but an error from Seattle U finalized the set 25-19 with Tarleton State taking the match 3-0.
The Texans will continue conference play as they hit the road to take on California Baptist on Sept. 28 at 9 p.m.
Be the first to comment