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STEPHENVILLE - The Tarleton TexAnns return home this week to for arguably the biggest home stand of the season as they welcome No. 12 Angelo State, Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas Woman's in battles of the Lone Star Conference's best.
Including the TexAnns, who improved to 11-4 on the season and 6-1 in the LSC last weekend, the combined record of the four teams playing in Wisdom Gym this week is 49-14 overall and 23-6 in conference play.
Tarleton is in a second-place tie in the conference with Tuesday's foe, Angelo State, while TAMUC enters the week as the fifth-ranked team in the conference and Texas Woman's leads the LSC with a 7-1 conference mark.
After winning their fourth straight game Saturday, the TexAnns are off to their best conference start since 2008 - when they started LSC play at 7-1 and finished 10-3. They're also coming off the biggest win of the season after rallying for a five-set victory over No. 5 West Texas A&M Friday night to earn the school's first-ever win at Canyon.
Nikki McNorton leads the team and the LSC, and is second in the nation, in blocking with 80 total blocks and 1.60 blocks per set this season. The senior from Channelview is also fourth in the conference, and 61st in the nation, in hitting percentage with .341.
Emily Klein also enters the week sixth in the LSC, and 51st in the nation, in digs with 4.73 per set while Danielle Barker is seventh in assists with 8.46 per set.
The week of action begins Tuesday at 7 p.m. as the TexAnns host No. 12 Angelo State for 'Take a Kid to the Game Day. All kids (age 14 and under) get in free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Angelo swept Tarleton earlier this season in San Angelo and currently own the career series 26-11, including seven straight, over Tarleton. The last TexAnn win over the Rambelles came Oct. 14, 2006.
The Rambelles come into the game as the top offensive team in the conference, leading in hitting percentage (.253), assists (13.80/set), and kills (14.54/set) while the TexAnns come in as a top defensive squad. Tarleton is the conference's No. 2 team in blocks (2.40/set) and No. 4 in opponent hitting percentage (.129).
Friday night, the TexAnns host Texas A&M-Commerce at 6 p.m. for the first match of the season between Tarleton and the Lions. This is the second trip to Stephenville for TAMUC this season after participating in the TexAnn invitational last month.
The Lions lead the all-time series over Tarleton 15-11, but the TexAnns have won two straight and six of the last eight meetings. Texas A&M-Commerce is led by its senior outside hitter Rachel Robertson, who is top three in the conference in hitting percentage (.366) and kills (3.58/set).
In the final game of the home stand, Tarleton hosts the LSC leader Texas Woman's who enters the week with a 7-1 conference mark. The Saturday affair is 'Camp Day' and autograph day for Tarleton fans. The TexAnns will be available after the game to sign autographs for fans and every member of Tarleton's summer camp who comes to the game wearing their camp shirt will receive free admission.
The Pioneers hold the all-time record against Tarleton at 29-15, but the TexAnns won the last meeting to send Texas Woman's home from the LSC Championship Tournament in the first round last season.
They enter the week in the top three in the LSC in digs (17.87/set), kills (13.60/set), assists (12.85/set), opponent hitting percentage (.127), and hitting percentage (.227).
Visit the Tarleton volleyball schedule page or the above links for links to the live stats and live video.
