Box Score Season Stats
STEPHENVILLE - Tarleton dominated Eastern New Mexico from the outset Friday night as the TexAnns (20-5, 13-2) notched their third straight 20-win season and pushed their current winning streak to nine with a sweep over the Zias (6-18, 1-13).
The win also marked the fourth time since Tarleton joined the NCAA in 1994 to reach the 20-win plateau. All four 20-win seasons have come under the instruction of head coach Mary Schindler. They also matched a school-best 13 conference wins in a season, matching last season's mark, with six games left to play.
Tarleton also matched the second-longest winning streak in school history at nine straight. The last time the TexAnns won nine straight was to begin the 2010 season. The school record is 12 straight, set in 1991.
In the opening set, the teams stayed even over the first 10 points. At 5-5, however, Tarleton pulled away with an 8-2 run to force a Zia timeout at 13-7.
With the score 18-10 Tarleton, Katie Covell landed a kill shot to give the serve back to the TexAnns. Nikki McNorton then served up four straight points on two kills by Stacie Murrah, one by Meg Umbel and one by Covell to force another ENMU timeout.
The Zias scored the next two points, but an attack error, a Covell kill and an emphatic block by Umbel sealed the first set 25-12 in Tarleton's favor.
Eastern New Mexico kept the second set respectable, trailing just 9-12 mid-way through the game, however, a Covell kill started a 6-0 TexAnn run - highlighted by four straight kills from Jazmine Green.
After the Zias scored three of the next four points, McNorton, Covell and Murrah landed kills to put the TexAnns up 22-12. Tarleton added the final three points on a service error and kills from McNorton and Covell to take the set 25-14.
In the final set, Eastern New Mexico again stayed close early as the TexAnns led 8-5 after the first 13 points.
A kill from Umbel, however, started a 9-1 TexAnn run - highlighted by six straight service points from Barker on two errors, two Green kills and two service aces - to put Tarleton on top 18-6.
Tarleton claimed seven of the next 12 points to win the match, ending with three straight points on a kill by Audra Vaello, and attack error and a Lacy Hodges service ace.
Covell recorded her 12th double-double of the season with 12 kills and 15 assists. McNorton added nine kills and four blocks to go along with a team-high .44 hitting percentage. Kelsey Raglin led the team with 16 digs.
Barker recorded 42 assists on the night, bringing her season total to 879. She is now 117 assists shy of passing Didi Ebert for fifth place on the single-season assist list.
Emily Klein is also close to etching her name in the TexAnn record books. Her 11 digs Saturday night brings her season digs total to 434 - just 30 digs shy of passing Sharon Lister for fifth place on the single-season digs list.
Tarleton will face No. 11 West Texas A&M tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Wisdom Gym for senior day. McNorton - the only senior on the roster - will be honored before the game.
