STEPHENVILLE, Texas ­— The Tarleton State women's volleyball program will begin their 2024 slate at the Lion Invitational hosted by Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
The Texans will open with a pair of games on Friday at The Field House to kick off the tournament. Tarleton will play against Central Arkansas in the first game of the invitational at 10 a.m. The Texans will close the day with a 4 p.m. match against Arkansas-Little Rock. Both games will be the first match between the two programs in program history. Both games will be streamed on the Texas A&M-Commerce website.
 
On Saturday, the Purple and White will conclude the Lion Invitational against the host, Texas A&M-Commerce at 3 p.m. Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
Last week, Emma Burke became the first Texan to earn a WAC preseason honor. The junior middle blocker was named to the Preseason All-WAC team, a year after earning a Second Team All-WAC selection in 2023. Burke led the team in blocks and service aces. The junior also ranked in the top four in kills on the Texans.
 
Madison Frank also earned an All-WAC honor after last season, earning a spot on the Freshman All-WAC Team. The freshman tallied 59 blocks and 122 kills in her debut season.
 
Last year, the Texans earned their first berth to the WAC Tournament. After securing their bid with a win at Abilene Christian, the Texans traveled to Utah Valley as the sixth overall seed. In their first match of the tournament, Tarleton found themselves pitted against the third-seeded UTRGV Vaqueros in the quarterfinals. The Texans dropped a five-set heartbreaker to end their season, 16-15, the most wins in the D1 era.
 
This year, Tarleton was picked to finish fifth in the WAC preseason poll. The Texans finished fifth last season after being selected to finish ninth in the preseason poll.
 
The Texans will start the season with nine consecutive road contests. Tarleton will play three-straight road tournaments before hosting their final non-conference tournament before the regular season. Last year, the Texans played their first four games at home.
 
Tarleton will welcome nine new faces to pair along the nine returning players from last season.
 
Head coach Mary Schindler is entering her 20th season as the leading lady for Tarleton State Volleyball. The Texan coaching staff consists of assistant, Hannah McManus-Smith (5th season), assistant, Damien Hardy (1st season), and graduate assistant and former player, Matti Theurer (1st season).
 
Schindler ranks in the top 50 among active D1 coaches in wins and is one of 24 active D1 coaches to have coached at least 20 seasons at her current and only school in her career.
 
Tarleton will be back in action next week at the Tommie Invitational hosted by St. Thomas. The Texans will take on host St. Thomas on Thursday, Northern Illinois on Friday and Valparaiso on Saturday. The Texans do not have a home contest until September 19 against Oral Roberts.
STEPHENVILLE, Texas ­— The Tarleton State women's volleyball program will begin their 2024 slate at the Lion Invitational hosted by Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
The Texans will open with a pair of games on Friday at The Field House to kick off the tournament. Tarleton will play against Central Arkansas in the first game of the invitational at 10 a.m. The Texans will close the day with a 4 p.m. match against Arkansas-Little Rock. Both games will be the first match between the two programs in program history. Both games will be streamed on the Texas A&M-Commerce website.
 
On Saturday, the Purple and White will conclude the Lion Invitational against the host, Texas A&M-Commerce at 3 p.m. Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
Last week, Emma Burke became the first Texan to earn a WAC preseason honor. The junior middle blocker was named to the Preseason All-WAC team, a year after earning a Second Team All-WAC selection in 2023. Burke led the team in blocks and service aces. The junior also ranked in the top four in kills on the Texans.
 
Madison Frank also earned an All-WAC honor after last season, earning a spot on the Freshman All-WAC Team. The freshman tallied 59 blocks and 122 kills in her debut season.
 
Last year, the Texans earned their first berth to the WAC Tournament. After securing their bid with a win at Abilene Christian, the Texans traveled to Utah Valley as the sixth overall seed. In their first match of the tournament, Tarleton found themselves pitted against the third-seeded UTRGV Vaqueros in the quarterfinals. The Texans dropped a five-set heartbreaker to end their season, 16-15, the most wins in the D1 era.
 
This year, Tarleton was picked to finish fifth in the WAC preseason poll. The Texans finished fifth last season after being selected to finish ninth in the preseason poll.
 
The Texans will start the season with nine consecutive road contests. Tarleton will play three-straight road tournaments before hosting their final non-conference tournament before the regular season. Last year, the Texans played their first four games at home.
 
Tarleton will welcome nine new faces to pair along the nine returning players from last season.
 
Head coach Mary Schindler is entering her 20th season as the leading lady for Tarleton State Volleyball. The Texan coaching staff consists of assistant, Hannah McManus-Smith (5th season), assistant, Damien Hardy (1st season), and graduate assistant and former player, Matti Theurer (1st season).
 
Schindler ranks in the top 50 among active D1 coaches in wins and is one of 24 active D1 coaches to have coached at least 20 seasons at her current and only school in her career.
 
Tarleton will be back in action next week at the Tommie Invitational hosted by St. Thomas. The Texans will take on host St. Thomas on Thursday, Northern Illinois on Friday and Valparaiso on Saturday. The Texans do not have a home contest until September 19 against Oral Roberts.