STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton TexAnn volleyball team will open Lone Star Conference play this Thursday, Sept. 17 against Texas Woman's University at Wisdom Gym South.

Thursday is Tarleton volleyball's annual “Think Pink” night and all fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game in support of breast cancer research.  Fans wearing pink and that make a minimum donation of $1.00 to the Think Pink fund will receive free admission into the game.

The TexAnns head into conference play with a 4-9 overall record after going 2-2 in last weekend's TexAnn Invitational.  Shay Gracy was named to the all-tournament team after leading the TexAnns with 40 kills and 12 blocks.

The Pioneers are 7-7 heading into Stephenville.  TWU participated in last weekend's TexAnn Invitational also, going 3-1 in the process.  Kendra Coulson was named to the all-tournament team after leading the Pioneers with 66 digs over the two-day event.

Thursday will mark the 40th meeting between the TexAnns and the Pioneers.  TWU leads the all-time series, having won 26 of the first 39 matches played, but Tarleton has won the last two including last season's 3-0 win over the Pioneers in Denton.   The TexAnns are 6-7 against the Pioneers in Stephenville.

Tarleton is 8-7 overall in LSC openers and have won three straight heading into Thursday's match.  The TexAnns are 5-3 when opening LSC play at home.

Gracy comes into this weeks matches leading the TexAnns in multiple categories, both offense and defensively.  The senior middle blocker is tops on the squad with 129 kills (2.87 kills per set) and a .262 hitting percentage.  She also leads the team with 28 total blocks (11 blocks solo).  Junior libero Shea McBrearty is Tarleton's other leader on defense and heads into Thursday's action with a team-high 194 digs (4.31 digs per set).  The TexAnn offense is run by sophomore setter Jessie Hartman and she leads the team with 269 assists (5.98 assists per set) on the season.  She leads the team with 11 service aces as well.

Other notable players for the TexAnns include, junior outside hitter Rachel Wolf (101 kills); junior middle blocker Erin Lynn (27 total blocks); and senior setter/defensive specialist Danielle Perkins (123 assists, six aces).

Alyson Harlan leads the Pioneers with 88 kills (2.44 kps) on the season.  She is followed by Launa McClung with 81 kills (1.80 kps).  Danielle Pegues leads TWU with a .202 hitting percentage.  Jessica Crow leads the team with 250 assists, while Coulson is tops on the squad with 198 digs.  Katelyn Osborne leads her team at the net with 35 total blocks (two blocks solo).

The Pioneers are out-hitting the TexAnns by just a small margin heading into Thursday's match-up. TWU has a hitting percentage of .136, while the TexAnns have a .132 percentage on the season.  The Pioneers lead in digs with 781 defensive stops compared to Tarleton's 648 digs.  TWU is out-blocking the TexAnns 92-72 as well. 

First service between the two teams is set for 7 p.m.