STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Volleyball dropped to California Baptist, 3-0, in its return to Wisdom Gym on Thursday night.
The Texans (7-17 overall, 2-9 WAC), fell to the Lancers (4-19, 4-7) in three sets (24-26, 23-25, 21-25).
Emma Burke came up one block short of her career high, registering eight. Burke currently ranks among the WAC top 10 for total blocks and blocks per set.
Emma Halcomb notched her seventh match this season of 20 or more digs. Halcomb led the team with 20. The Texan libero is coming off her second WAC Libero of the Week selection of the year.
Allison Bryant led the team in kills with 13, followed by Tehana Mo'o with nine. Mo'o posted a team-high .320 attack percentage. Megan Hodges led the team in assists while also achieving her 12th double-double of the season (19 assists, 10 digs).
The Lancers got out to a hot start, taking an early 10-5 lead in the first set thanks to three service aces. CBU continued to hold a large lead until the 19-12 mark. The Texans sparked an 8-2 run on a sequence that included four kills from Bryant and a Yuna Ansquer ace. The two teams found themselves tied at 24 until the Lancers took the first stanza on back-to-back kills.
In the second period, CBU once again took an early lead, 10-4. Burke had two consecutive blocks shortly after, bringing the Texans back within two points. A kill from Madison Frank gave Tarleton its first lead of the set at the 13-12 point. Despite an ace from Burke, the Lancers orchestrated a late rally to take a 23-21 advantage of the second frame. CBU notched the set victory, 25-23.
Bryant continued her stellar offensive performance, notching five kills in the third period. During the third and final game, the conference foes partook in a back-and-forth affair, with neither team being able to notch a lead above two points until Tarleton led, 19-16. California Baptist came back to tie the set at 19. They finished the third frame on a 6-2 run to achieve the set and match victory, 25-21.
The Texans will look to bounce back at home against Grand Canyon on Saturday. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ with first serve set for 1 p.m. CT.
