Box Score STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton wasted little time in moving to 2-0 in Lone Star Conference play after needing just barely over an hour to dispatch the visiting Midwestern State Mustangs in straight sets.
 
Tarleton handled the Mustangs in large part to a stingy defense that allowed MSU to hit just .037 for the match, including a (-).029 in the first set.
 
After the opening set started in a 6-6 deadlock, Tarleton went on a 15-8 run to take a 21-14 lead. Over that stretch, Tarleton kept Midwestern from scoring consecutive points. The TexAnns finished off the set 25-15 with three straight points on a service ace from Danielle Barker and back-to-back kills by Stacie Murrah.
 
Midwestern State kept things close for the first half of the second game as the TexAnns and Mustangs found themselves in a 12-12, but a kill from Murrah shifted the momentum in Tarleton's favor as the TexAnns went on to a 13-4 run down the stretch to secure the second set 25-16.
 
The third set was all Tarleton from get-go after Barker and Jasmyne Brown put the TexAnns up 3-0 early. Barker served up the three straight to open the game, including a service ace, while Brown landed a kill and a game-opening block.
 
A small Midwestern run pulled the game even at 3-3 before Tarleton struck for a 19-7 run to put the game out of reach at 22-9. The Mustangs outscored Tarleton 4-3 over the final seven points, but ultimately Tarleton got the game three win 25-13 and the sweep.
 
Murrah led the team with 12 kills and was the only TexAnn to crack double-figures in the quick match. Katie Covell and Jazmine Green each added eight. Green led the team in hitting percentage at .429.
 
Barker recorded all but one assist for the TexAnns, amassing 38 for the day while Emily Klein led the team with 15 digs. Barker was one dig shy of a double-double, ending the day with nine.
 
Tarleton will take a one-game break from conference play with a Tuesday night match against Heartland Conference rival St. Mary's at 7 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.
 
QUICK HITS
- This was the fastest game of the season for the TexAnns.
 
- With this win, Tarleton evened the all-time series record against the Mustangs at 25-25. The TexAnns have beaten Midwestern in six straight meetings, dating back to Nov. 11, 2010.