By: Brandon Ireton (brandon.ireton@angelo.edu)

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Angelo State volleyball team suffered just its second loss on the road falling to LSC foe Tarleton State in straight sets (25-22, 25-16, 30-28).

The Belles (10-3, 6-2 LSC) were swept for the first time this season after being limited to just a .016 hitting percentage. TSU (11-4, 5-3 LSC) hit .119 for the match and out blocked ASU 15-7 for the match.

Zoey Hanrahan and Abbie Lynn led the Belles with eight kills each. Hanrahan hit .429 for the match and added three blocks. ASU held the dig advantage 54-49 over TSU which snapped a two-match losing streak. Katie MacLeay led the defense with 11 digs while Shelby Wilt recorded nine digs on the night.

The TexAnns 11-9 lead in the first set before MacLeay's  ace started a 3-0 run to put the Belles on top 12-11. Hanrahan, who had four kills in the first set, gave ASU its second lead of the match at 13-12. ASU trailed 22-18 but two straight Tarleton State errors forced a TSU timeout. The Belles would cut the lead to 22-21 with a kill by Mallory Blauser before a TSU error tied the first set at 22. Tarleton State would rebound to score the next three points and take the first set 25-22.

The Belles jumped out to a 5-3 early lead on a Daeleigh Castile kill. The freshman would finish with three kills and two assisted blocks in the second set. The TexAnns would catch fire with the set tied at 10-10. TSU outscored the Belles 15-6 to take the second set 25-16 behind a .400 hitting percentage.

TSU started the third set on a 7-1 run before the Belles put together a 13-7 run to tie the match at 14. Two-straight TexAnn erros would give ASU its first lead of the third set at 17-15. The two teams continued to battle with neither squad taking more than a two point lead. The Belles fought off two match points before Tarleton State secured the win at 30-28.

Hailey Roberts led the TexAnns with 13 kills and added 11 digs while Kenya Alexander recorded eight kills.  

The Belles will return to action tomorrow at 12 p.m. against Newman at Wisdom Volleyball Gym in Stephenville.