Box Score SAN ANGELO, Texas – Despite Tarleton State, the two-seed in the Lone Star Conference Tournament, taking the 3-0 (23-25, 17-25, 21-25) victory over the seventh-seeded Western New Mexico University volleyball team, they made it anything but easy in the first round of the tournament on Thursday.

WNMU (16-16) pounded out 31 kills, four service aces and 10 blocks, but couldn't quite get past TSU (25-5) for the third time this season. Four Lady Mustangs had at least five kills led by seven each from senior Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) and junior Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley). Junior Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ) added six and junior Samantha Haupeakui (San Mateo, CA/Aragon) with five. Rich hit .294 in her final game, adding four digs and four blocks to account for nine points. Junior Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) caught fire from the service line with four aces, all coming in the first set. She also led the team in assists with 14. Junior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) had 16 digs and freshman Hannah Tishlarich (Elk Grove, CA/Pleasant Grove) led the way in blocks with six.

Autumn Taylor found her offensive game to lead Tarleton State with 15 kills. Hailey Roberts added 12 and Alexis Applewhite with 10. The TexAnns finished with 48 kills, five service aces and six blocks.

Tarleton State looked ready to run away with the first set when they moved in front 20-14. A Rich kill then set the table for Hughes to serve and she took over. She spun in not one, not two, but four straight service aces, with the last one moving WNMU to within one at 20-19. An attack error on the next point by the TexAnns helped even the set at 20. With the TexAnns back in front at 23-21, Rich tallied a kill and then with Tarleton State at set point at 24-22, junior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) was able to keep the set alive with a kill. Taylor ended the rally for WNMU as her kill on the next point sealed the set for Tarleton State at 25-23. There were seven ties and two lead changes in the first set, as the TexAnns held the 18-12 kill advantage.

WNMU fought back to tie in the second set on the 16^th point with a double-block by Rich and Haupeakui to even the set at eight. Tarleton State then went on an 8-3 run to boost their advantage to 16-11. McGhiey brought the Lady Mustangs back to within three at 18-15, but that would be as close as they could get with the TexAnns continuing to apply the pressure and eventually take the set at 25-17.

The third set featured the most ties (9) and lead changes (5). Back-to-back blocks on Applewhite by Verrill and Tishlarich moved WNMU to the early lead at 5-3. Haupeakui and Rich combined for a block to keep the lead at two at 10-8 when the TexAnns began to come back strong. A 6-1 run suddenly had Tarleton State thinking sweep when they took the 14-11 advantage. An attack error moved the deficit back to two at 19-17, but it was just too much Tarleton State. The TexAnns got points from Taylor, Roberts and Hannah McManus to take the set at 25-21 and match 3-0.

For Rich, she caps her final season with 238 kills and 138 blocks, both career-highs. She was named the LSC Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-LSC and All-Academic LSC this year. Seniors Kelsie Bailey (Albuquerque, NM/El Dorado), Kelsey Marks (Cave Creek, AZ/Cactus Shadow) and Tamine Passi also wrapped up their careers. Bailey played in two sets today with a pair of digs, while Marks had two digs as well in two sets played.

Tarleton State advances to face Texas A&M-Kingsville in the semifinal round tomorrow. The Javelinas just got past West Texas A&M in five sets earlier today.