Box Score Season Stats
STEPHENVILLE - Tarleton (13-5, 8-2) rallied back from a devastating first-set loss to win three straight and send Texas Woman's (13-5, 7-3) packing after four sets on Autograph Day in Wisdom Gym.
This marks the second time in school history the TexAnns have ever been 8-2 in conference play through the first 10 games, matching the 2008 season in which they started 10-2 and finished the conference schedule 10-3.
The afternoon began with the longest set of the season for the TexAnns - one that saw nine lead changes and 16 ties - which eventually went in favor of the Pioneers after a 33-31 battle.
Both teams battled early, leading to a 9-9 tie over the first 18 points. Kelsey Raglin served up four straight points, however, to give Tarleton it's biggest lead of the set at 13-9.
Tarleton maintained the lead until a 5-2 Pioneer push knotted the score at 22-22. Both teams traded control until back-to-back TWU kills finally ended the opening set.
The second set also need some extra points to determine a winner, but Tarleton would not be denied despite trailing early.
TWU jumped out to a quick 11-8 lead before a Jazmine Green kill brought the TexAnns within two and gave the serve to Danielle Barker. The sophomore setter immediately served up seven straight points to put Tarleton on top 16-11.
Texas Woman's outscored Tarleton 13-8 over the next 21 points to tie the game at 24-24, but an attack error by the Pioneers and a kill from Stacie Murrah, off a set from Barker, gave Tarleton the game 26-24.
In the third set, Tarleton had to come from behind once again after falling behind 14-10.
A Murrah kill to make it 14-11, however, was the turning point for the TexAnns who proceeded to make a 6-1 run to take the lead at 17-15.
Tarleton surrendered the lead at 21-20, but a Pioneer service error and four points served up by Barker - on a Nikki McNorton kill and three TWU errors - gave Tarleton the win 25-21.
In the fourth set, Tarleton got on top early when a service ace by McNorton tied the game at 3-3 and started a 7-0 Tarleton run to give the TexAnns a 9-3 lead.
After TWU struck for a 10-4 run to tie the game at 13-13, the teams stayed even all the way through 24-24. Raglin landed a kill shot to give Tarleton the advantage and Texas Woman's committed another attack error to seal the match for Tarleton with a 26-24 win.
Katie Covell led the TexAnns with 14 kills while also recording another double-double as she tied Barker for a team-high 14 digs. Barker's 14 digs gave her a double-double as well to go along with her team-high 28 assists.
Murrah (13), McNorton (12) and Raglin (10) cracked double figures in kills while Murrah (.385), McNorton (.370), Green (.350) and Covell (.312) all had hitting percentages high than .300, among player with at least 10 attempts.
McNorton also added eight total blocks for the day.
Tarleton returns to action next Friday, Oct. 12 at Cameron for a 7 p.m. match.
