STEPHENVILLE, Texas - Tarleton State Volleyball came up just short on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Wolverines in five sets at Wisdom Gym.  

The Texans (5-14 overall, 0-6 WAC), couldn't complete the comeback during their final match of homecoming week, falling to the Wolverines (11-6 overall, 2-3 WAC). Tarleton moves to 4-3 at home this season following their loss to Utah Valley, (24-26, 22-25, 25-31, 25-23, 9-15).   

Allison Bryant had a match-high 20 kills, recording her second consecutive 20-plus total and her fourth of the season.  

Megan Hodges led the team with 30 assists, followed by Yuna Ansquer with 22. This was the fifth match this season that Hodges and Ansquer recorded 20-plus assists each. Hodges also notched a new season-high with five service aces. 

The Texans had four different players with double-digit digs. Emma Halcomb led the team with 20, followed by Hodges (17), Bryant (14) and Tatum Busch (10). This marks Hodges' ninth double-double of the season and Bryant's fifth. Busch's 10 kills and 10 digs notched her first double-double of her collegiate career. 

Mary Kate Stasevich led the team in blocks, tying her career-high of five. Mya Cabrera tied her career-high as well with three. 

The opening set was a back-and-forth battle between both sides. Utah Valley jumped out to an early 9-6 lead, followed by a Texan rally that included three aces from Hodges, turning the table in Tarleton's favor. Tied 24-24 late in the first, Utah Valley tallied two consecutive points to take the first set, 26-24. Stasevich recorded two blocks during the opening frame. 

Hodges opened up the beginning of the second period with two more service aces, helping the Texans build an early 3-0 lead that the Wolverines overcame at the 6-6 mark. The conference foes exchanged blows until the 12-12 point, where UVU went on a 9-4 run, notching their largest lead of the match. The Purple and White fought valiantly to erase the deficit, coming within one point at 21-22 thanks to a pair of kills from Madison Frank. However, the Wolverines held on to take the second stanza, 25-22. 

Tarleton's first four points in the third frame came off two pairs of kills from both Bryant and Frank, giving them an early advantage. The Texans continued to build upon their momentum and got the crowd going from an amazing Halcomb dig at the 12-8 mark, which was topped off via a kill from Bryant. Tarleton continued to persevere, taking the third set, 25-21. Busch was responsible for three of the four final points during Tarleton's victory in the third frame. 

Busch picked up right where she left off in the fourth frame, notching the Texans first point of the set. After a brief UVU rally, a 4-1 run from the Purple and White tied the set up at eight, emphasized by a block from Stasevich. After multiple back-and-forth sequences, the Wolverines took a commanding 23-19 lead, seemingly taking control of the match. However, three consecutive aces from Bryant would bring the Texans back. The Purple and White never took their foot off the gas following Bryant's heroics, taking the fourth stanza, 25-23. 

In the fifth and final game, the Wolverines took an early 7-3 lead. The Texans were never able to come back in time, dropping the fifth set, 9-15.  

Tarleton State Volleyball will have five days off before they travel to Riverside, CA for their next match against California Baptist. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ with first serve set for 7 p.m. CT.