The Teams: Tarleton State (11-6, 2-1 WAC) Grand Canyon (10-4, 3-0 WAC)
Where: Phoenix, Arizona
Arena: GCU Arena
Time: 4 p.m. CT 
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
 
Tarleton State will continue their time on the road as they travel to Arizona to take on Grand Canyon for the fourth time in program history. The Texans are looking for redemption after a tough battle against California Baptist for their first loss in conference. 
 
Quick hits
• As of Sept. 28, Tarleton State is tied for second in conference with UTRGV. Grand Canyon is currently tied for first in conference with Stephen F. Austin and California Baptist.  
• Tarleton State heads into the match after a tough 3-1 loss to CBU. The Texans took set one 25-16 but fell in the final three sets 25-20, 25-18 and 25-21.
• This will be the fourth meeting between GCU and Tarleton State and the third time the Lopes are hosting the Texans. Grand Canyon remains undefeated against the Purple and White. 
• In the Spring 2021 season, Tarleton State kicked off conference play against the Lopes on Jan. 25 in Phoenix, Arizona, and GCU took the match, 3-0. The following day, Grand Canyon saw another victory over the Texans with a 3-1 final. The most recent matchup between the two teams took place Oct. 13 in the 2022 season when the Purple and White hosted GCU for the first time in program history and the Lopes took the match, 3-1.
• Junior Allison Bryant leads the WAC with 233 kills and 249.5 points. In the most recent match for the Texans, Bryant led the team with 19 kills for the evening and saw three blocks throughout the match. 
• Sophomore Emma Burke has a hitting percentage of .420 and has compiled 26 aces.  
• In the match against CBU, sophomore Breanna McDonough tied with freshman Madison Frank with four blocks on the night. McDonough also saw eight kills on the night to sit in third on the team for most kills on the match. 
• Sophomore Megan Hodges leads the team with 410 assists on the season. Hodges compiled 23 assists and 15 digs on the match against California Baptist. 
• In the match against the Lancers, the Texans compiled 66 digs, 53 kills, 53 assists, eight blocks and five aces. 
• Tarleton State will head into the match against the Lopes with an overall record of 11-6 and a 2-1 conference record.  
 
 
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 233. 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 249.5 points on the season.
 
In her second season with the Texans, Megan Hodges has quickly put up some impressive numbers. Leading the team with 410 assists, Hodges has made it clear she is here to compete. The setter is in second place for digs with 152 on the season.
 
Sophomore Emma Burke is a vital part of the Texan's defense. Leading the team with 71.0 blocks and sitting in third place on the team with 139 kills, the returner is a consistent, key player for Tarleton. Burke also leads the Texans in service aces with 26. 
 
Defensive specialist Matti Theurer has seen time in each set for the Texans so far this season. Leading the defensive with 253 digs, the junior averages 3.78 digs per set.
 
Another notable returner is junior Grayson Schirpik. The outside hitter from Leander, Texas, currently sits in fourth on the team with 137 kills on the season, averaging 2.08 kills per set. Schirpik also ranks fourth on the team in points with 157.5. 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 177. The outside hitter sits in second for service aces with 17 on the season. Fitzmaurice is also in third for digs with 130 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. 
 
Two-way player
 
Megan Hodges (S) currently leads the team in assists with 410 and assists per set with 6.12 on the season. Hodges is tied for second most digs with 152 and averages 2.27 digs per set.