STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Volleyball was unable to hold off Seattle U during their conference home opener, losing 1-3 (25-16, 20-25, 23-25, 23-25).
With the loss, the Texans (5-11 overall, 0-3 WAC) snapped their four-match home winning streak to drop their home record to 4-1 this season. The Redhawks (3-11,1-2) left Stephenville with their first conference victory of the season.
Allison Bryant and Tehana Mo'o each posted double digit kill totals. Bryant led the way with 12, followed by Mo'o with 11, a new season high and her first double-digit kill total of the year.
The Texans had three players with double-digit digs. WAC dig-leader Emma Halcomb led the team with 22, followed by Tatum Busch with 12 and Megan Hodges with 10. Busch set a career high in digs, marking her first double-digit outing of the season. Busch also led the team with four aces.
Megan Hodges recorded her eighth double-double of the season (24 assists, 10 digs). Hodges currently ranks top 10 in the conference in assists per set.
The Texans found themselves down 0-4 in the opening set. However, Tarleton was able to rally shortly after, thanks to a 6-1 run that included two aces from Tatum Busch. The Texans never looked back, going on another impressive rally to run away with the set. Busch had three aces in the first frame and Emma Burke also tallied an ace during the opening period.
In the second stanza, both teams exchanged blows and were tied 13-13 midway through the set. The Redhawks went on a run that ended at the 19-15 mark. The Texans weren't able to respond in time, dropping the second set 20-25.
With the match tied 1-1, the Redhawks looked to pull away early in set three, opening the set on an 8-2 run. Tarleton tied the match up at 11-11 on a rally which included three kills from Allison Bryant. With the Purple and White trailing at the 20-21 mark, Bryant responded with a pair of consecutive aces to put the Texans up 22-21. The Redhawks closed the set with three unanswered points, taking a 2-1 advantage of the match.
The nail-biting fourth frame was tied 20-20 with both teams trading points and neither being able to take a commanding lead. Seattle U notched match point at the 24-23 mark, taking down the Texans on the road at Wisdom Gym. Tehana Mo'o had three kills in the fourth period.
The Purple and White will return to action on Saturday when they take on UT Arlington at the College Park Center in Arlington. This will be the fourth conference match of the season for the Texans. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ on Saturday with first serve set for noon.
