Box Score  













FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University volleyball team (2-8) sent Tarleton State University (4-1) to the brink, narrowly falling short of an upset in a 3-2 (25-15, 22-25, 25-16, 21-25, 15-12) nail biter at the Sid Richardson Center on Monday.
 
The TexAnns jumped out to an 8-2 in start the match, and extended the lead quickly to 12-5 with a Hailey Roberts kill.  Tarleton State kept the Lady Rams off balanced and took a lopsided 25-15 set one win.
 
Texas Wesleyan stepped on the court with a different tone in the second set, grabbing an early 3-1 lead with a Lynsay Buell kill. The TexAnns caught up and tied the game at 7-7, but Wesleyan made a 6-0 run that boasted three consecutive aces from Abigail Zipoy and capped by a Shelby Stinnett kill to take a 15-9 lead. Tarleton State inched their way back to within one at 23-22 with a pair of Kaitlyn White kills and a pair of Ram errors. Another Buell kill and a Tarleton State error lifted the Lady Rams to a 25-22 second set win.
 
Tarleton State came back in the second set, as the TexAnns fed their best hitter Roberts early and often. Robert and the TexAnns bounced to a 7-3 lead early, and extended the lead to 17-9 with another kill by the above mentioned player.  Tarleton State kept a sizable lead on the way to a 25-16 third set.
 
The two teams were deadlocked in the fourth set, as the score was tied five times before the Rams busted out a 6-0 rally that included three consecutive aces by Kristina Gafford, and capped by a Stinnett kill to make it a 16-10 lead.  Tarleton State worked very hard to crawl their way back into the game, leaning heavily on Roberts, taking a 20-19 lead late. The Lady Rams played clutch volleyball and made another 6-0 run that flashed a pair of Meghan Finley kills and two forced errors to send the game to a fifth set with a 25-21 win.
 
The fifth set was tied seven times as neither team gave up an edge to their opponent. The TexAnns held a slight 8-6 lead before a Stinnett kill and a TSU error tied the game at 9-9.Tarleton State showed their depth, placing multiple looks to compliment Roberts, who ultimately ended the match a kill to take the 15-12, 3-2 win.
 
Texas Wesleyan held their own against a very good NCAA Division II opponent and head coach Kimberly Weaver sees things coming together. "Tonight was a better picture of the team we desire to be as we head into conference play. (Lauren) Hamaker and Gafford did an excellent job of distributing a balanced offense. Abby Zippoy really took ownership of the libero position and it was impressive to see her excel on defense and service receptions. This team is capable of achieving great things over the next few months."
 
Stinnett led the Rams with 10 kills. Lauren Lauren Hamaker notched a double double behind 22 assists and 11 digs.  Zipoy posted 19 digs and four aces. Gafford had five aces and 12 assists in the match. Finley grabbed eight kills.
 
The Lady Rams will open conference play with a match against Mid-America Christian University on Tuesday, September 16 starting at 6:00 PM in the Sid Richardson Center.