The Teams: Tarleton State (16-14, 7-9 WAC) vs. UTRGV (18-11, 12-4 WAC)
Where: Orem, Utah
Arena: Lockhart Arena
Time: 1 p.m. MT, 2 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
 
The Purple and White have made history as a Division l program as the Texans earned a spot in the WAC Tournament for the first time. In the first round of the tournament, Tarleton State will take on the Vaqueros in their third meeting this season. The winner of the match will face the winner of the match between California Baptist and Grand Canyon for round two on Friday at 3 p.m. MT. 
 
Quick hits
• Tarleton State finished the regular season in sixth place. 
• Matti Theurer claimed the title of WAC Libero of the Week for the second time this season on Nov. 8. She first received the award on Oct. 18 to secure the first WAC title of the season for the Texans.  
• Emma Burke was named All-WAC Second Team and Madison Frank claimed a spot on the WAC All-Freshman Team Wednesday. 
• This match will mark the third meeting this season between the Vaqueros and the Texans. In the 2023 season, UTRGV has won both matches so far, 3-1. The inaugural meeting between the two took place back in 1986 when the Purple and White secured their first win over the Vaqueros, 2-1. The next four matches against UTRGV resulted in victories for Tarleton State. In oct. of 2021, the Vaqueros took their first win over the Texans. The next five matches saw UTRGV on top. 
• Junior Allison Bryant leads the team with 340 kills and 368.5 points. 
• Sophomore Emma Burke has compiled 35 aces for the Texans. She has also amassed 118.0 total blocks for the 2023 season.  
• Sophomore Megan Hodges leads the team with 715 assists on the season. She has also compiled 250 digs and 37 service aces in the 2023 campaign.
• Rajini Fitzmaurice is consistently a key player for Tarleton State. With an impressive season high of 22 kills in the match against the Wildcats, Fitzmaurice has now seen 19 matches with 10+ kills for her overall total of 340 kills for the season. The Florida, native, has compiled 24 aces for the Texans. Fitzmaurice has totaled 223 digs and 388.0 points.  
• The Purple and White have compiled some impressive numbers with 1,534 kills, averaging 13.0 kills per set. The Texans have amassed 1,405 assists, 189 aces and 1,709 digs averaging 14.5 digs per set. The Tarleton State defense consists of 34 solo blocks, 357 block assists and 212.5 total blocks.
• The winner of the match between the Vaqueros and the Texans will face the winner of the match between Grand Canyon and California Baptist. That match will take place Friday at 3 p.m. MT.  
 
 
 
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 tying for the leader in kills on the team with 340. 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 18 out of 30 matches played for the Texans. 
In her second season with the Texans, Megan Hodges has quickly put up some impressive numbers. Leading the team with 715 assists, Hodges has made it clear she is here to compete. The setter is in second place for digs with 250 on the season.
Sophomore Emma Burke is a vital part of the Texan's defense. She leads the team and is ranked second in the WAC with 118.0 blocks. The middle blocker is fourth on the team with 229 kills. The returner is a consistent, key player for Tarleton. Burke has also contributed 35 aces for the Texans. 
Defensive specialist Matti Theurer has seen time in each set for the Texans so far this season. Leading the defense with 489 digs, the junior averages 4.14 digs per set. The libero has also amassed 24 aces on the season. 
Another notable returner is junior Grayson Schirpik. The outside hitter from Leander, Texas, is third on the team with 243 kills on the season, averaging 2.08 kills per set. Schirpik also ranks fourth on the team in points with 281.5. 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 340 and season high of 22 kills in the match against Abilene Christian. The outside hitter is tied for fifth on the team in service aces with 24 on the season. Fitzmaurice is also in third for digs with 223 on the season, with a career high of 17 against UTSA.
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. 
 
WAC awards
On Oct. 18, Matti Theurer claimed the first WAC award of the season for the Texans as she was named Libero of the Week. In the match against UTA, Theurer saw multiple new season-highs with four aces and four points tallied for the Purple and White. She compiled 39 digs in two matches and averaged 4.17 digs per set. She also contributed eight assists in two matches. 
 
 
Two-way player
Megan Hodges (S) currently leads the team in assists with 715 and assists per set with 6.06 on the season. Hodges is tied for second most digs with 250 and averages 2.12 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 30 matches played for Tarleton State so far. The middle blocker has compiled 229 kills in comparison to her total of 126 in the previous season. Burke has 36 collegiate career aces, with 35 coming from the 2023 season. The Texas, native, has tallied 48 digs on the season to top her total of 14 in the 2022 season. Burke sits at an impressive 118.0 total blocks on the season so far to surpass her 67.0 total blocks in the previous season. She has also compiled 330.5 points on the season so far in comparison to her 167.0 total previously. 
 
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 318 kills for the Texans to top her previous career high season at Liberty of 163 in 2019. Fitzmaurice has beat her previous 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 one set conference matches remaining for the Purple and White. With a 362.5.0 point contribution to lead the team, Fitzmaurice has beaten her previous record in a season with 206.0 points in her first season at Liberty in 2019.
 
Up next for Texan Volleyball
    Tarleton State will look for a victory over UTRGV to secure a spot in the second round of tournament play.  A win over the Vaqueros will see the Texans face the winners of the match between CBU and GCU on Friday at 3 p.m MT.