The Teams: Tarleton State (11-9, 2-4 WAC) at Stephen F. Austin (17-3, 6-0 WAC)
Where: Nacogdoches, Texas
Arena: Shelton Gym
Time: 6 p.m. CT 
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
 
Texan Volleyball will continue conference play on Thursday in Nacogdoches at 6 p.m. as the defending WAC Champions will host Tarleton State. The Texans will take on the undefeated conference leaders, Stephen F. Austin. 
 
Quick hits
• Tarleton State is tied for seventh in conference with Utah Tech and Utah Valley.  
• This is the best start for Texan Volleyball in the Division l era through 20 matches. This is Tarleton's best start through 20 matches since they went 12-7 as the No. 23 ranked team in the nation in 2019. In the 2019 season, the Purple and White finished 22-12 overall and 12-6 in conference. 
• This will be the sixth meeting between SFA and Tarleton State and the overall meetings record favors the Lumberjacks, 5-1. 
• The most recent match between the teams took place on Sept. 29 in the 2022 season as the Texans hosted the Lumberjacks and Tarleton State fell in a four-set battle. The Texans had faced the same fate a few days prior in their first meeting in the 2022 season on Sept. 22 when SFA hosted the Purple and White and took the match 3-1. In the 2021 season, both teams met three times, the final meeting, Nov. 4, ending in a five-set battle with the Texans on top for the first ever victory over the Lumberjacks in program history. In the previous meeting, Oct. 2, 2021, SFA hosted Tarleton State and ended the match with a sweep. In the inaugural meeting between the two teams on Jan. 22, 2021, the Lumberjacks were victorious with a 3-1 win. 
• Junior Allison Bryant leads the WAC with 277 kills and ranks 16th in the nation for kills. Bryant is second in the WAC with 297.5 points. 
• Sophomore Emma Burke has a hitting percentage of .405 and has compiled 32 aces to lead the WAC. Burke leads the WAC in total blocks with 81.0.
• Sophomore Megan Hodges leads the team with 470 assists on the season. Hodges compiled 21 assists in the match against Southern Utah.
• In the match against the Thunderbirds, the Texans compiled 68 digs, 54 kills, 48 assists, eight blocks and seven aces. 
• In the 2023 season, Tarleton State has compiled 1,036 kills to lead the WAC. The Texans have amassed 957 assists and 124 aces the team's season high of 12 aces against UIW. The Purple and White have surpassed the 1,000 mark for digs with a grand total of 1,163 digs on the season with 10 matches remaining in the regular season. Texan Volleyball averages 14.7 digs per set. Tarleton State's defense has compiled 28 solo blocks and 230 block assists for 143.0 total blocks.
 
Notables
 
Watch list
 
    Allison Bryant joins the Purple and White as a transfer from Palm Beach State. The junior outside hitter has quickly made her mark as a member of the team as she leads the Texans and the WAC in kills with a total of 277. Bryant's season-high comes from a five-set battle against the UIW Cardinals where she racked up 24 kills throughout the duration of the match. The Kelseyville, California, native, has compiled 10-plus kills in 17 out of 20 matches played for the Texans. She also leads the team and the WAC with 297.5 points on the season.
In her second season with the Texans, Megan Hodges has quickly put up some impressive numbers. Leading the team with 470 assists, Hodges has made it clear she is here to compete. The setter is in second place for digs with 175 on the season.
Sophomore Emma Burke is a vital part of the Texan's defense. Leading the team with 81.0 blocks and is tied in third place on the team with 155 kills, the returner is a consistent, key player for Tarleton. Burke also leads the Texans in service aces with 32 to lead the conference.
Defensive specialist Matti Theurer has seen time in each set for the Texans so far this season. Leading the defensive with 316 digs, the junior averages 4.00 digs per set.
Another notable returner is junior Grayson Schirpik. The outside hitter from Leander, Texas, is currently tied for third on the team with 155 kills on the season, averaging 1.99 kills per set. Schirpik also ranks fourth on the team in points with 178.0. In the 2022 season, Schirpik was a vital power for the Purple and White.
Rajini Fitzmaurice has pulled some serious weight for the Texans in recent matches. Fitzmaurice sits in second for most kills on the team with 199. The outside hitter sits in second for service aces with 21 on the season. Fitzmaurice is also in third for digs with 145 on the season, with a career high of 17 against UTSA.
 
New school, new numbers
With several newcomers putting on the Purple and White for the first time, the newest members of Tarleton Volleyball have seen impressive numbers to greatly contribute to the team's success. Rajini Fitzmaurice comes to Tarleton State from Liberty University. In her first season for the Texans, the outside hitter has quickly become a leading force for Tarleton State compiling 199 kills for the Texans to top her career high season at Liberty of 163 in 2019. Fitzmaurice is also on course to beat her career high of 18 aces in the 2019 season. The Lake Mary, Florida, native has tallied 21 aces in her first season at Tarleton State with 10 set conference matches remaining for the Purple and White. With a 235.0 point contribution to the team, Fitzmaurice has already beaten her previous record in a season with 206.0 points in her first season at Liberty in 2019.
 
 
Future upgrades coming soon
 
       Tarleton State is in the era of upgrades. With the groundbreaking of the new event center, Tarleton State Volleyball will part ways with the Wisdom Volleyball Gym that has been the home for the Texans since 1977. Tarleton Volleyball will move to Wisdom Gym, which has been home to Tarleton Men's and Women's Basketball since 1970, after the completion of the events center. Tarleton Volleyball will soon allow more room to accommodate fans in a familiar setting as well as give members of Texan Nation the opportunity to utilize reserved seating for future Texan Volleyball matches.
       
WAC preseason poll
 
       Tarleton was picked to finish 9th out of 11 in the Western Athletic Conference. With 28 points, the Texans were picked to follow up Southern Utah (34). Tarleton State will go to battle against Grand Canyon, who is projected to win the league, on Sept. 30 in Phoenix, Arizona. 
 
A record start
       This is the best start for Texan Volleyball in the Division l era through 20 matches. At 11-9, they surpassed their previous best match through 20 matches of 12-8 in 2019 (Spring 2021). This is Tarleton's best start through 20 matches since they went 12-6 as the No. 23 ranked team in the nation in 2019.
 
 
Two-way player
 Megan Hodges (S) currently leads the team in assists with 470 and assists per set with 5.95 on the season. Hodges is tied for second most digs with 175 and averages 2.22 digs per set. 
 
Second year stride
   In her second season as a Texan, Emma Burke has been a powerhouse player for the Purple and White. In the 2022 season, Burke saw time in 28 matches, but the sophomore has surpassed her numbers from the previous season with only 20 matches played for Tarleton State so far. The middle blocker has compiled 155 kills in comparison to her total of 126 in the previous season. With 33 collegiate career aces, 32 coming from the 2023 season, Burke leads the WAC in service aces. The Texas, native, has tallied 38 digs on the season to top her total of 14 in the 2022 season. Burke sits at 81.0 total blocks on the season so far to surpass her 67.0 total blocks in the previous season. She has also compiled 234.0 points on the season so far in comparison to her 167.0 total previously.