The Teams: Tarleton State (11-5, 2-0 WAC) California Baptist (9-4, 2-0 WAC)
Where: Riverside, California
Arena: Van Dyne Gym
Time: 8 p.m. CT 
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
 
The Texans will make their way to Riverside, California for the third conference match of the 2023 season. This will be the first conference match on the road for the Purple and White and the first time in program history that the Lancers will host Tarleton State. 
 
Quick hits
 
• As of Sept. 25, Tarleton State is tied for first in conference and holds the second longest winning streak in the WAC with six consecutive wins. California Baptist holds the longest winning streak with seven consecutive wins. 
• Tarleton State heads into the match with a six-match win streak after sweeping Seattle U. This ties for the longest winning streak for the Tarleton State Volleyball program since 2019. In the 2020 season, the Purple and White saw six consecutive wins after a 3-0 win over Dixie State on March 8. In the 2019 season, Tarleton State saw seven consecutive wins after a 3-1 victory over Texas Woman's on Nov. 12. 
• This will be the fifth meeting between the Lancers and the Texans and the first time ever that CBU has hosted Tarleton State Volleyball. 
• The most recent meeting between the Purple and White and the Navy and Gold took place Oct. 15 in the 2022 season. As the Texans hosted the Lancers, a four-set match ended with a win for Tarleton State. The first meeting between the two teams took place in 2021 on Feb. 1 in Stephenville, Texas, when the Lancers won 3-0. The following day, CBU took the match 3-1. In the third meeting of the 2021 season, on Oct. 22, California Baptist won their third consecutive match over the Texans, 3-1. 
• In the previous week, sophomore Megan Hodges surpassed 1,000 assists in her collegiate career with a total of 1,116 assists. The setter has amassed 387 assists on the 2023 season with a season-high of 37 in the match against UIW. Hodges averages 6.14 assists per set.
• Allison Bryant leads the WAC with 214 kills. 
• As Tarleton State heads into conference play, the Purple and White sit at a 11-5 overall record and 2-0 in conference. The Texans have amassed a total of 850 kills and 782 assists with an average of 12.4 assists per set. The team has compiled an impressive 96 aces in 16 matches, along with 923 digs, averaging 14.7 digs per set. The Texan's defense has racked up 26 solo blocks and 180 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 214. 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 16 matches played for the Texans. She also leads the team with 229.0 points on the season.
 
       In her second season with the Texans, Megan Hodges has quickly put up some impressive numbers. Leading the team with 387 assists, Hodges has made it clear she is here to compete. The setter is in second place for digs with 137 on the season.
 
       Sophomore Emma Burke is a vital part of the Texan's defense. Leading the team with 68.0 blocks and sitting in fourth place on the team with 133 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 236 digs, the junior averages 3.75 digs per set.
 
       Another notable returner is junior Grayson Schirpik. The outside hitter from Leander, Texas, currently sits in third on the team with 136 kills on the season, averaging 2.19 kills per set. Schirpik also ranks fourth on the team in points with 156.5. 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 161. The outside hitter sits in second for service aces with 17 on the season. Fitzmaurice is also in third for digs with 127 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.
 
Winning streak
 
       The Texans currently hold a six-match win streak, which is tied for their longest winning streak since 2019. In the 2020 season, Tarleton State saw a six-match winning streak. In the 2019 season, the Texans saw seven consecutive wins after a 3-1 victory over Texas Woman's on Nov. 12. 
 
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. 
 
Two-way player
 
 
       Megan Hodges (S) currently leads the team in assists with 387 and assists per set with 6.14 on the season. Hodges is tied for second most digs with 137 and averages 2.17 digs per set.