What a week for the TexAnn volleyball team. They return home from an 0-4 trip in Omaha, Neb. to get their first win against Texas Wesleyan on Wednesday... Then a 1-3 trip in Wichita Falls.
The TexAnns had spurts of greatness at the MSU tournament. They fell in straight sets to Emporia State, but for playing the fourth-best team in the nation, Tarleton didn't look bad at all. They looked like they were playing the fourth-best team in the nation. The other three teams that played Emporia State... looked like they too were playing the fourth-best team in the nation.
The TexAnns and Northwood then played a marathon of a match on Friday with the TexAnns taking the match 3-2. The TexAnns showed some resiliency, coming back from being down 2-1. Both teams looked tired to begin the fifth set, and while neither team folded, the TexAnns gave everything they had to come away with the win.
Going into Saturday, I thought the win from Friday might give this team exactly what they needed - a shot in the arm. But Drury came to play and the TexAnns were simply outplayed. They were not outmatched, they were just outplayed and the Panthers walked away with the win.
The loss to Southwest Baptist surprised all of us. The players, the team, and even myself. For me, both coaches and nine of the players - it must have been de-ja-vu all over again. SBU defeated the TexAnns in five sets last year in San Antonio. The same thing happened on Saturday as well. The loss look like it just took the breath out of the team. But, hopefully that is not the case.
This team just needs a little home cooking and no better time than now. The TexAnns open a six-match homestand this weekend with the TexAnn Invitational set to begin on Friday, Sept. 11. Tarleton will play four matches in a more comfortable environment and if the team can come away with three or four wins over the weekend, maybe that will be what this team needs to carry on through the remainder of the season.
The tournament will begin at 12:30 on Friday at the Tarleton Recreational Sports Center. The tournament consists of a rolling schedule and each match will begin approximatly 20-30 minutes after the prior match. Tarleton will play Texas-Permian Basin in the second match on Friday and will then play Oklahoma Panhandle State in the day's fourth match.
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