STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State Volleyball revealed its 2024 campaign, the team announced on Friday.
The Purple and White released the 2024 schedule which consists of 30 regular season matches (16 conference, 14 non-conference), the Western Athletic Tournament, and a scrimmage at Texas Tech to kick things off. Tarleton State will host 12 matches in Stephenville, starting with the Tarleton State Invitational on Sept. 20.
“We have a stronger schedule than we have seen as a whole, it will be fun to see how we compete both at home and on the road,” said head coach Mary Schindler. “I believe the preseason will help prepare us for the job with early opportunity for everyone.”
The Texans will tune things up with a preseason trip to Lubbock, Texas, on Aug. 23 to take on the Red Raiders for a 6 p.m. scrimmage.
On Aug. 30, Tarleton State will head to the Lion Invitational hosted by Texas A&M-Commerce to take on Central Arkansas, Arkansas-Little Rock and A&M-Commerce. From there, the Texans will go head-to-head with St. Thomas, Northern Illinois and Valparaiso at the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament, hosted by St. Thomas in Minnesota, beginning Sept. 5.
A brief break from tournament play will see the Purple and White head to Lamar on Sept. 10 for a 4 p.m. matchup with the Cardinals. In the 2023 season, the Texans faced the Cardinals at a neutral site in the Roadrunner Classic, sweeping Lamar and finishing the weekend 2-1.
Tournament action will resume as the Texans head to the Northern Arizona Invitational to take on New Mexico and NAU beginning Sept. 13.
Tarleton State will head to Louisiana for a 1 p.m. match on Sept. 17 against the McNeese Cowgirls for the first time in program history.
The Purple and White will end their tournament schedule and kickstart their run at home as the host of the Tarleton State Invitational. The Texans will take on Alcorn State, Houston Christian and Louisiana Monroe beginning Sept. 20. At the home opener, the matchup with Alcorn State will welcome in elementary students from the community for Education Day and the nightcap against the Huskies will welcome Greek life for opening night in Wisdom. Following the game against ULM, Tarleton State Volleyball will stick around for postgame autographs.
”I am excited for the opportunity to host a tournament again, it’s always a great feeling to pack our gym’,” said Schindler.
The Western Athletic Conference has decreased from 11 volleyball teams in the 2023 season to nine in the 2024 campaign. After UTRGV and Stephen F. Austin chose to go down to the Southland, the WAC members now include Tarleton State, Abilene Christian, Utah Tech, Utah Valley, Southern Utah, UT Arlington, California Baptist, Seattle U and Grand Canyon. In 2023, the WAC Tournament welcomed eight total teams, leaving three teams out of postseason play.
The Texans will begin their conference run with a pair of road matches. Southern Utah is first on the slate for Tarleton State as the Thunderbirds host the Purple and White at 7:30 p.m. CT on Sept. 26. Utah Tech will be next in line to take on the Texans with a 2 p.m. CT match time on Sept. 28.
On Oct. 1, Tarleton State will host Nicholls State at 6 p.m. for their final non-conference meeting of the season.
The Texans will continue their run in Wisdom with the first home conference match of the season at 6 p.m. on Oct. 3 as they battle against Seattle U. Fans in attendance will receive foam hands while supplies last for their Bloktober themed match. In the 2023 season, the Texans were 2-0 over the Redhawks after a sweep in Wisdom and a reverse sweep in Seattle.
Next, the Purple and White will head to Arlington, Texas, to face the Lady Mavericks on Oct. 5 at 12 p.m.
Oct. 10 will see the Texans back in the ‘Ville as Tarleton State hosts Abilene Christian for the I-20 Rivalry with a 6 p.m. start time. The Wildcats vs Texans matchup will welcome all in attendance to come decked out in all things purple in honor of the Purple People Bleeders theme. In the previous season, the Texans went 2-0 over the Wildcats after a pair of 3-1 wins for Tarleton State.
Utah Valley will make their way to Wisdom next for a 1 p.m. meeting on Oct. 12. The homecoming battle against the Wolverines will offer Texan Volleyball Jersey Koozies to those in attendance while supplies last.
The Purple and White will head to the west coast for a date with the Lancers of California Baptist at 9 p.m. CT on Oct. 17. Grand Canyon will be next in line on Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. CT in Phoenix. In the most recent meeting with the Lopes, Tarleton State defeated GCU with a 3-1 final in the ‘Ville to mark the first ever victory over the Lopes for the Texans.
Tarleton State will host Utah Tech on Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. for a pink out game as they Dig for a Cure. Free pink pom poms will be offered to all fans in attendance while supplies last.
On Oct. 28, the Texans will head to Abilene for their second regular season meeting with the Wildcats at 6 p.m.
The Purple and White will host the next four matches, starting with California Baptist on Halloween at 6 p.m. The ”Volloween” themed match will offer Halloween ducks to fans in attendance while supplies last.
The Lopes will be next with a 1 p.m. meeting on Nov. 2. for the Legends Game. The Nov. 7 matchup with Southern Utah will begin at 6 p.m. A Throwback Thursday theme against the Thunderbirds will offer trading cards for fans in attendance while supplies last.
The Texans will host their last regular season match on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. against UT Arlington while honoring the seniors on senior night.
The final pair of conference games will see Tarleton State head northwest to take on Utah Valley on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. CT and Seattle U on Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. CT.
The 2024 WAC Volleyball Tournament will be held in Arlington from Nov. 21-23. In the 2023 season, the Texans made their inaugural appearance at the tournament, fighting their way into postseason play for the first time since becoming a Division I program.
“In transition we went 2-2 against Power 5 opponents, finished above .500 in three out of four seasons and qualified for the WAC Tournament,” said Schindler. “We have beaten every team in the WAC at least once during this period. The challenge and focus this year will be playing to the best of our ability every single night.”
The full Tarleton State Volleyball schedule can be found here. Tickets can be purchased here or at www.tarletonsports.com/tickets.
| Date | Opponent | Time (CT) | Location |
| Aug. 23 | Texas Tech (EXHIBITION) | 6 P.M. | Lubbock, TX |
| Aug. 30 | Central Arkansas | 10 A.M. | Commerce, TX |
| Aug. 30 | Arkansas-Little Rock | 4 P.M. | Commerce, TX |
| Aug. 31 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 3 P.M. | Commerce, TX |
| Sept. 5 | St. Thomas | 7 P.M. | St. Paul, MN |
| Sept. 6 | Northern Illinois | 3:30 P.M. | St. Paul, MN |
| Sept. 7 | Valpo | 11 A.M. | St. Paul, MN |
| Sept. 10 | Lamar | 4 P.M. | Beaumont, TX |
| Sept. 13 | New Mexico | 3 P.M. | Flagstaff, AZ |
| Sept. 14 | Northern Arizona | 1 P.M. | Flagstaff, AZ |
| Sept. 17 | McNeese | 1 P.M. | Lake Charles, LA |
| Sept. 20 | Alcorn State | 10 A.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Sept. 20 | Houston Christian | 6 P.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Sept. 21 | Louisiana Monroe | 6 P.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Sept. 26 | Southern Utah* | 7:30 P.M. | Cedar City, UT |
| Sept. 28 | Utah Tech* | 2 P.M. | St. George, UT |
| Oct. 1 | Nicholls State | 6 P.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Oct. 3 | Seattle U* | 6 P.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Oct. 5 | UT Arlington* | 12 P.M. | Arlington, TX |
| Oct. 10 | Abilene Christian* | 6 P.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Oct. 12 | Utah Valley* | 1 P.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Oct. 17 | California Baptist* | 9 P.M. | Riverside, CA |
| Oct. 19 | Grand Canyon* | 3 P.M. | Phoenix, AZ |
| Oct. 26 | Utah Tech* | 1 P.M | Stephenville, TX |
| Oct. 28 | Abilene Christian* | 6 P.M. | Abilene, TX |
| Oct. 31 | California Baptist* | 6 P.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Nov. 2 | Grand Canyon* | 1 P.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Nov. 7 | Southern Utah* | 6 P.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Nov. 11 | UT Arlington* | 6 P.M. | Stephenville, TX |
| Nov. 14 | Utah Valley* | 7 P.M. | Orem, UT |
| Nov. 16 | Seattle U* | 8 P.M. | Seattle, WA |
| Nov. 21-23 | WAC Tournament | TBA | Arlington, TX |
Dates and times subject to change | Home games in bold | * WAC Game
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