Box Score Season Stats
STEPHENVILLE - Tarleton (12-5, 7-2) played its fourth, five-set match in the last six and earned a hard-fought win against Texas A&M-Commerce (12-5, 4-4) at Wisdom Gym Friday night.
After a travel delay forced the start time back an hour, Texas A&M-Commerce jumped out to a surprising lead at 10-4. The Lions extended their lead to 15-8 before the TexAnns answered.
Danielle Barker landed a kill to switch the serve, and then the sophomore setter served up five straight points - on the strength of two kills by Nikki McNorton, one by Kelsey Raglin and a pair of Lion errors - to bring the TexAnns back to 15-14.
The teams shifted the lead over the next several points, with Tarleton taking a 22-21 lead. Then McNorton dropped a kill shot, which was originally ruled out of bounds but reversed giving the TexAnns a 23-21 lead.
Tarleton scored two of the next three points to claim the opening set 25-22.
In the second set, the only string of points Tarleton could put together was a 5-0 run to tie the game at 10-10. Otherwise, the second set belonged to the Lions as they tied the match after two sets with a 25-19 win.
Tarleton rallied in the third set by jumping out to a 7-3 lead on a 5-1 run, with four straight served up by Raglin.
After TAMUC tied the score at 10-10, an error by Commerce gave Tarleton a one-point lead and the serve. Emily Klein took advantage by serving up three straight points for a 14-10 lead. Another 5-1 push extended the TexAnn lead to 19-11.
The teams each scored six points over the rest of the set as Tarleton regained the match lead at 2-1 with a 25-17 win.
Tarleton led 14-10 in the fifth set, but Commerce put together an 11-2 run to take a 21-16 lead. A bad set by Commerce and a kill by McNorton were Tarleton's only other points in the set as TAMUC forced game five with a 25-18 win.
In the fifth set, the Lions appeared prime to steal the match from Tarleton but, with the TexAnns trailing 8-11, McNorton floated an attack toward the back line. The Lion libero got a piece of the ball, but it didn't matter as the kill landed just inside the back line to bring the score to 11-9.
Barker didn't give up the serve, as she served out - on the strength of two kills each by McNorton and Raglin, two Lion errors and a service ace - to bring the TexAnns back for the 15-11 win.
Katie Covell posted a double-double for Tarleton with 12 kills and 11 digs while McNorton led the team with 20 kills and a .536 hitting percentage.
Barker recorded 41 assists while Lacy Hodges led the team with 17 digs. Emily Klein (16) and Raglin (10) also had double-figure digs for Tarleton.
The TexAnns will return to action Saturday at 2 p.m. for 'Autograph Day' and 'Camp Day' against Texas Woman's. Tarleton will stay after the game to sign autographs and all volleyball summer campers who come in their summer camp shirt will receive free admission.
