AT A GLANCE
The No. 10 Texans will take one of its longest road trips of the season as they travel south to take on Lone Star Conference rivals Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M-International this weekend.
 
THE GAMES
Friday, September 27th
6:00 p.m. — at Texas A&M-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
 
Saturday, September 28th
1:00 p.m. – at Texas A&M-International, Laredo, TX
 
GAME COVERAGE
Live stats and live video will be available for the games. Both links can be found on the Tarleton Volleyball schedule page at TarletonSports.com. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The nationally-ranked Tarleton Texans returned home last weekend to begin Lone Star Conference action and took down St. Edward's in four sets and swept St. Mary's in the Wisdom Volleyball Gym.
 
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Tarleton Volleyball moved up one spot back to No. 10 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) after winning their first two conference matches of the season. Tarleton has now been ranked in 33 straight AVCA polls dating back to the final poll of the 2016 season.
 
The Texans, who were picked as the preseason favorites in the Lone Star Conference, are the highest ranked LSC team in the AVCA poll this week.
 
THE OPPONENT: TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE
The Texans and Javelina last met in 2018, where Tarleton swept Texas A&M-Kingsville in Kingsville, 3-0. The Texans lead the all-time series 31-21. The teams are tied 11-11 in Kingsville. The Javelina enter the match 9-4 on the season with a 1-1 mark in conference play.
 
THE OPPONENT: TEXAS A&M-INTERNATIONAL
The Texans and Dustdevils last met in 2011, where Tarleton defeated Texas A&M-International
at a neutral site game, 3-1. The Texans lead the all-time series 5-1. The teams are tied 1-1 in Laredo. Texas A&M-International enters the match 2-7 on the season.
 
TUIALII-UMI, FRANKLIN EARN LSC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
Tatyana Tuialii-Umi was named the LSC Offensive Player of the Week and Amari Franklin was named the LSC Setter of the Week. It's the first career LSC weekly award for both Tuialii-Umi and Franklin. They're the fourth and fifth Tarleton players to receive LSC weekly awards in just the third week of the season, joining Lauren Kersey, Sofia Tonga, and Kayla Brannon.
 
Tuialii-Umi powered home a career-high 22 kills in Friday night's win over St. Edward's and tacked on a team-high 15 kills on Saturday afternoon against St. Mary's.
Franklin started both matches for Tarleton to begin LSC action and dished out a team-leading 49 assists at a rate of 7.0 assists per set. 
 
TUIALII-UMI NAMED AVCA/SPORTS IMPORT NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tualii-Umi has been named the best offensive player in the country for her efforts last week after being named the AVCA/Sports Imports National Player of the Week. She is the second player in program history to earn a national player of the week award.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The Texans return home to battle LSC rivals Cameron and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. Tarleton will play the Aggies on Friday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. and then take on the Lady Lions on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.