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Tarleton State University Athletics

DavisPetersonEKURecap
3
Winner Eastern Ky. EKU 25-2,15-0 UAC
1
Tarleton St. TSU 11-17,7-8 UAC
Winner
Eastern Ky. EKU
25-2,15-0 UAC
3
Final
1
Tarleton St. TSU
11-17,7-8 UAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Eastern Ky. EKU 19 25 25 28 (3)
Tarleton St. TSU 25 21 23 26 (1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Grant Cohen

Tarleton State Volleyball’s hard-fought battle against UAC champions comes up short

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Volleyball gave the United Athletic Conference regular season champions, Eastern Kentucky, all it could handle, but the Colonels came out on top 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 23-25, 26-28) on Thursday night at Wisdom Gym. 

Tarleton State's (11-17, 7-8 UAC) .412 attack percentage in the first set gave the Texans momentum in the opening frame. Eastern Kentucky (25-2, 15-0 UAC), however, responded with a .323 attack percentage in the second set to tie the match and held the Texans to under .150 hitting in each of the final two frames to remain perfect in UAC play. 

Five players (Breannah Peterson, Alyssa Dinh, LaNeah Lara, Onita Davis, Jacqui McClain) had 10 or more kills on Thursday night. Davis, the UAC Freshman of the Week, co-led with 11 digs off .375 hitting. McClain posted the best attacking percentage for the Texans on Thursday with a .563 mark while Dinh came up with a .474 attacking percentage. 

Setters Alexis Massey (25 assists, 12 digs) and Peyton Fadal (22 assists, 12 digs) each posted a double-double while libero Leddy Rae Guinn had 25 digs. Guinn broke the program's Division I era single season program record for digs and is now in the top 10 on the all-time single season digs list. 

The Texans jumped out to an early four-point lead in the first set, eventually going up by five at the media timeout. After Davis helped the Texans maintain their lead late in the first set, another freshman followed suit. Freshman outside hitter Laci Schoen came up with a kill and scored again after an EKU point to put her team in front 23-17. 

EKU looked to come back by scoring back-to-back points, but the Texans were unfazed. A kill from Dinh after an EKU service error allowed the Texans to take set one 25-19. 

Tarleton State jumped out to an early 7-4 lead in the second set before EKU went on a 3-0 scoring run to tie the frame. Even with the Texans getting a 3-0 scoring run of their own, EKU answered by obtaining six of the next seven points to take a 13-11 advantage. The Texans answered EKU's 4-0 scoring run by getting five of the next six points to make it a one-point set. EKU, however, ended the second set with four of the final five points to win 25-21 and tie the match. 

In order to crawl out of an early hole in the third set, Tarleton State used their heads…literally. Fifth year outside hitter/opposite Madison Rice-Locket went up for an attack and was blocked by EKU, with the ball bouncing off her head and landing on the Colonels' end to make it a one-point set. 

EKU stretched its lead later in the third set before a pair of kills from McClain allowed the Texans to tie it up. Davis followed her teammate by getting a kill on the next point to make it 22-21 late in the set. The Colonels countered with three straight points and got the final kill of the set to win 25-23 and take a 2-1 lead later in the match. 

An early 4-0 scoring run and a kill from Dinh in the fourth set allowed the Texans to go up 10-6. Back-to-back service aces from McClain tamed the Colonels' comeback later in the frame, with the freshman coming in the clutch with a kill to make it 19-15 in favor of Tarleton State. Another kill from McClain and an EKU attack error put the Texans two points away from forcing a fifth set. 

EKU showed why they own the top spot in the conference standings, scoring on two straight Tarleton State set points and eventually tying it 25-25. A kill from the Colonels on the next play made it match point for EKU, but a successful challenge by the Texans prevented the Colonels from scoring the match-clinching point. That didn't bother EKU, who got back-to-back kills to win the set 28-26 and take the match. 

Tarleton State wraps up the regular season on Saturday at 12 p.m. at Wisdom Gym, taking on Austin Peay on Senior Day/Alumni Day. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as the Texans will honor the 2026 senior class pregame. Tickets start at just $10 and can be purchased online here. 
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