The Teams: Tarleton State (11-10, 2-5 WAC) at UT Arlington (14-6, 3-4 WAC)
Where: Arlington, Texas
Arena: College Park Center
Time: 12 p.m. CT 
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
 
The Texans will take on the Mavericks for the fourth time in program history. A 2-1 overall record between the two teams sits in favor of UT Arlington. This will be the first time UTA will host a match with the Purple and White. 
 
Quick hits
• Tarleton State is ninth in conference.  
• This is the best start for Texan Volleyball in the Division l era through 21 matches. This is Tarleton's best start through 21 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 fourth meeting between the Mavericks and the Texans. Tarleton State has hosted each match so far. 
• In the most recent match between the two teams, Sept. 29, 2022, the Purple and White hosted UTA and Tarleton State fell in three sets giving the Mavericks their second victory over the Texans. In the inaugural meeting of UT Arlington and Tarleton State, the Mavericks took the match 3-2. The following day, the Purple and White evened the score with a sweep. The overall record between the two is 2-1 in favor of UTA.  
• Junior Allison Bryant leads the WAC with 285 kills and ranks 14th in the nation for kills. Bryant is third in the WAC with 305.5 points. 
• Sophomore Emma Burke has compiled 32 aces to lead the WAC. Burke has also tallied 82.0 blocks to lead the team.
• Sophomore Megan Hodges leads the team with 488 assists on the season. Hodges compiled 18 assists in the match against SFA.
• In the match against the Ladyjacks, the Texans compiled 48 digs, 38 kills, 36 assists, two blocks and one ace. 
• In the 2023 season, Tarleton State has compiled 1,074 kills to lead the WAC. The Texans have ammassed 993 assists and 125 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 1,211 digs on the season with 9 matches remaining in the regular season. Texan Volleyball averages 14.8 digs per set. Tarleton State's defense has compiled 28 solo blocks and 234 block assists for 145.0 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 285. 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 21 matches played for the Texans. She also leads the team and the WAC with 305.5 points on the season.
In her second season with the Texans, Megan Hodges has quickly put up some impressive numbers. Leading the team with 488 assists, Hodges has made it clear she is here to compete. The setter is in second place for digs with 181 on the season.
Sophomore Emma Burke is a vital part of the Texan's defense. Leading the team with 82.0 blocks and is tied in third place on the team with 158 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 331 digs, the junior averages 4.04 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 164 kills on the season, averaging 2.02 kills per set. Schirpik also ranks fourth on the team in points with 187.5. 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 209. The outside hitter sits in second for service aces with 21 on the season. Fitzmaurice is also in third for digs with 152 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 209 kills for the Texans to top her career high season at Liberty of 163 in 2019. Fitzmaurice also 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 245.0 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 21 matches. In the 2019 season, the Texans were 12-9 through 21 matches. This is Tarleton's best start through 21 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 488 and assists per set with 5.95 on the season. Hodges is tied for second most digs with 181 and averages 2.21 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 21 matches played for Tarleton State so far. The middle blocker has compiled 158 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 82.0 total blocks on the season so far to surpass her 67.0 total blocks in the previous season. She has also compiled 237.0 points on the season so far in comparison to her 167.0 total previously.