The Teams: Tarleton Texans (10-5, 1-0 WAC) Seattle U (3-9, 0-1 WAC)
Where: Stephenville, Texas
Arena: Wisdom Volleyball Gym 
Time: 1 p.m. 
Streaming Platform: ESPN+ 
 
After taking down the Utah Valley Wolverines to claim the first conference win of the season, Tarleton State will go head-to-head with Seattle U on Saturday Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. in Wisdom Volleyball Gym. A win over the Redhawks will tie the Texans for the longest winning streak in four years. In 2019, Tarleton State saw a seven-match win streak after a 3-1 victory over Texas Woman's. In the following season, the Texans saw a six-match win streak after taking the match from Dixie State, 3-0.  The Purple and White will head into the match-up against the Redhawks 1-0 in conference and Seattle U with a 0-1 conference record. 
 
Quick Hits 
• As of Sept. 21, Tarleton State is ranked first in the WAC. 
• Tarleton State heads into the match with a five-match win streak after the win against UVU. This is the longest winning streak for the Purple and White since 2020 when the Texans defeated Dixie State for a six-match win streak.
• This will be the fourth meeting between the Redhawks and the Texans. 
• Tarleton State holds a 3-0 record against Seattle U. In the first two matches, the Redhawks hosted the Purple and White. The two teams met for the first time in February of 2021 and the Texans took a five-set match, 3-2. The second meeting took place the following day and Tarleton State won, 3-1. In the most recent match-up, the Purple and White hosted Seattle U and swept the Redhawks in three sets. 
• In the most recent match, the Texans kicked off conference play with a action packed victory over the Wolverines of Utah Valley, 3-1. 
• In the previous week, sophomore Megan Hodges surpassed 1,000 assists in her collegiate career with a total of 1,095 assists. The setter has amassed 366 assists on the 2023 season with a season-high of 37 in the match against UIW. Hodges averages 6.10 assists per set.
• Emma Burke leads the WAC with a .423 hitting percentage and sits in second place for service aces with 24. 
 • Allison Bryant leads the WAC with 195 kills and 221.0 points. 
• To begin conference play, Seattle U faced Abilene Christian. The Wildcats took the match in three sets to send Seattle U into the match-up against Tarleton State, 0-1. 
• As Tarleton State heads into conference play, the Purple and White sit at a 10-5 overall record and 1-0 in conference. The Texans have amassed a total of 806 kills and 743 assists with an average of 12.4 assists per set. The team has compiled an impressive 94 aces in 15 matches, along with 866 digs, averaging 14.4 digs per set. The Texan's defense has racked up 24 solo blocks and 168 block assists. 
 
 
Notables
            
Watch List
In the 2023 season, Tarleton State Volleyball will welcome 11 new players to the roster. Accompanying the new members are seven familiar faces you can find on Tarleton's roster. Here are a few that are making some waves in Texan Nation.
 
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 in kills with a total of 207. 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 13 out of 15 matches played for the Texans. She also leads the team with 221.0 points on the season.
 
In her second season with the Texans, Megan Hodges has quickly put up some impressive numbers. Leading the team with 366 assists, Hodges has made it clear she is here to compete. The setter is in second place for digs with 131 on the season.
 
Sophomore Emma Burke is a vital part of the Texan's defense. Leading the team with 62.0 blocks and sitting in fourth place on the team with 125 kills, the returner is a consistent, key player for Tarleton. Burke also leads the Texans in service aces with 24.
 
Defensive specialist Matti Theurer has seen time in each set for the Texans so far this season. Leading the defensive with 219 digs, the junior averages 3.65 digs per set.
 
Another notable returner is junior Grayson Schirpik. The outside hitter from Leander, Texas, currently sits in third on the team with 130 kills on the season, averaging 2.20 kills per set. Schirpik also ranks fourth on the team in points with 149.5. 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 153. The outside hitter sits in second for service aces with 16 on the season, 10 of those coming from the previous five matches. Fitzmaurice is also in third for digs with 116 on the season, with a career high of 17 against UTSA.     
 
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. 
            
Winning streak
The Texans currently hold a five-match win streak, their longest winning streak in three years. In the 2020 season, Tarleton State saw a six-match winning streak. A win over Seattle U would tie the Purple and White for the longest winning streak since 2019 when the Texans saw a seven-match win streak after taking down Texas Woman's 3-1 on Nov. 12.
            
Two-way player
Megan Hodges (S) currently leads the team in assists with 366 and assists per set with 6.10 on the season. Hodges is tied for second most digs with 131 and averages 2.18 digs per set.