TSU-Angelo Box Score
TSU-Tarleton Box Score
TOPEKA, Kan. - - Megan Sharpe had a rare kill-block double-double, and both Truman outside hitters posted double-doubles to help guide the Bulldog volleyball team to a key five-set victory against regional foe Tarleton (Texas) State in the final match of the day at the WU Lady Blues Classic.
Truman (7-6) will play two matches on Saturday, facing Central Oklahoma at 11:00 am before returning to the court at 3:00 pm against Abilene Christian.
The Bulldogs rebounded from a four-set loss earlier in the day to down Tarleton, 3-2 (26-24, 20-25, 27-25, 23-25, 15-10) in a back-and-forth affair that saw 41 ties and 23 lead changes. Truman prevailed in “overtime” twice, picking up extra point wins in the first and third sets to gain control at 2-1.
After Tarleton rebounded to take the fourth, Truman came out blazing in the fifth and final frame, building a fast 7-2 lead. The Bulldogs would never lead by less than four the rest of the way, getting a kill from Erin Burmester on the final point to seal the victory.
Molly Sinclair (13 kills, 18 digs), Allie Brak (12 kills, 16 digs) and Megan Sharpe (12 kills, ten blocks) led a Bulldog attack that hit .217 for the match. Sharpe's double-double was the first kill-block double-double of the season for Truman, with her ten rejections setting a new career-best. Meanwhile, on the outside, Sinclair and Brak added seven blocks and four aces combined to go with their double-doubles.
The Bulldog right-sides also came through on the attack, with Burmester (nine kills; .450 hitting percentage) and Lauren Radix (nine kills, .467 hitting percentage) putting up nearly flawless numbers with seven combined blocks. Kylie Easlon posted a double-double with 32 assists and 15 digs, while Meghan Zimmerman added 24 assists and eight digs.
Truman put up 16 blocks for the match (three solo, 26 assist) and eight aces but did give Tarleton (10-6) 15 free points off service errors.
Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs were handed a 3-1 (-17, 24-26, 27-25, -19) setback to No. 20 Angelo (Texas) State. Truman hit just .108 but was led by Emily Briseno's had a team-high ten kills and five blocks.
After struggling out of the gate, Truman rebounded in the second set to hold ASU to just a .067 mark and even the match at one apiece. The turning point of the match came late in the third set when, after Truman held set point at 24-21, the Rambelles scored six of the next seven to steal the set, 27-25, and take a 2-1 lead in the match. From there, ASU hit .359 to just .205 for Truman in the fourth set in holding on for the four-set win.
Burmester and Radix added seven kills apiece, while Zimmerman notched a double-double with 20 assists and ten digs. Abby Moser took home the match-high defensive honors with 28 digs, and Brak dug a career-high 19 attacks on the outside.
ASU out-hit Truman .170 to .108 and out-blocked the 'Dogs, 15-10. Angelo also served aggressively, dealing nine aces to Truman's three.
