STEPHENVILLE – The Angelo State volleyball team started strong but faltered late, falling to Tarleton State three sets to one Tuesday night.

The Belles (9-4, 2-1) hit just .134 as a team in the match as they suffered their first Lone Star Conference loss of the season.

ASU started off the match on the right foot, taking an early 5-4 on an Audrey Fragniere kill in set one. The TexAnns jumped back on top with six straight points before Angelo State called a timeout and tied the match back up at 11-11 on a block by Grace White and Fragniere.

The two teams continued to trade runs, with Tarleton getting to the 20 point mark first and taking a 21-18 lead. With Chloe Robinson at the service line, the Belles rattled off the next four points and took a 22-21 lead. The teams traded points until Morgan Preston went to the line and aced a serve to give ASU a 26-24 set one win.

In set two, the TexAnns took over the momentum. Tarleton stormed ahead with 17 of the first 19 points scored in the match and didn't look back en route to a 25-8 win. The Belles hit -.033 in the set.

ASU recovered in the third set, taking a brief lead early and keeping within two points of TSU throughout the match. Sundara Chinn then tied the set at 20-20 with a kill and a strong serve, forcing a Tarleton timeout.

Chinn was the team leader in kills on the night with 12, adding in five digs and three blocks as well. She was not the only Belle to reach the double-digit kill mark, however, as Anna Graham also added in 10. Setter Meghan Parker also had a strong showing in Stephenville with 39 assists and a season-high 14 digs for her eighth double-double this year.

The TexAnns came out firing after the break and closed out the third set 25-20.

Tarleton State again took an early lead in the fourth set, using a seven point run to go up 14-6. The Belles bounced back with their own 6-1 run, but were unable to completely close the gap the rest of the way, dropping the final set 25-21.

ASU will continue a tough LSC road swing this weekend, traveling to take on Eastern New Mexico Friday night in Portales and West Texas A&M Saturday afternoon in Canyon.