SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State volleyball team won its Lone Star Conference opener in a 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-14, 25-20) win over Tarleton State in front of 932 fans at Stephens Arena at the Junell Center on Wednesday evening.

The Belles (8-3, 1-0 LSC) were led by a balanced attack as three hitters went for double-digit kills led by Mallory Blauser's season high 23 kills and Zoey Hanrahan's 11 kills and .529 hitting percentage. The TexAnns (8-3, 0-1 LSC) were limited to a .115 hitting percentage. 

"We came out pretty strong," ASU head volleyball coach Chuck Waddington said. "We kind of laid down in the second but came back strong in the third and fourth sets. We did the little things that we have been talking about needing to do to get the win. I challenged them and told them we can't play Tarleton State's game we need to play our style and that is what I am most proud of. We finally started to see that happen and the results showed."

ASU started the match on an 11-5 run to open the first set after one of Brianna Sotello's seven kills in the first set. Tarleton State battled back and tied the match at 19 on a Hailey Roberts kill. The Belles would go on a 6-2 run aided by three straight TSU attacking errors with the match tied at 22 to take the first set 25-22.

Tarleton State came back in set two hitting .235 as a team. The Belles trailed never led in the set being down as much as eight before the TexAnns took the set 25-18.

A kill by Maggi Jo Keffury to tie the third set at nine sparked a 16-5 run to propel Angelo State to a 25-14 win in the third set. Keffury recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 50 assists and 15 digs. It is the third time this season and 11^th time in her career she has had at least 50 assists in a match.

Blauser and Hanrahan led the charge in the deciding fourth set. Blauser had seven of her team high 23 kills while Hanrahan scored five of her 11 kills in the final set. A kill by Blauser gave the Belles a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
ASU is now 7-1 in LSC openers under head coach Chuck Waddington.

Sotello recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 19 digs. Katie MacLeay had 23 digs while Kelly Hasbrouck and Micheala Sifuntes each finished with 13 and 11 digs, respectively. Morgan Seaton came on and was credited with four blocks assists.

The Belles return to the road and will take a trip to Springfield, Massachusetts to play in the American International College Invitational on Friday and Saturday.