CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah volleyball (3-19, 2-9 WAC) will make its last home stand of the season, this time facing Tarleton State (14-9, 8-3 WAC). The Thunderbirds will look to sustain their momentum from the last match, where they knocked off UT Arlington and overcame a seven-game skid.
Last Time Out
The first set saw both teams trade early points. An early kill by Kaitlyn Hoelker and a couple of Mavericks errors helped the Thunderbirds take a 5-4 lead. Amaya Tobias added a kill to keep pace, and Addyson McArthur delivered back-to-back kills to give Southern Utah a 10-9 advantage. UT Arlington responded with a 3-0 run before McArthur stopped the surge with another kill. Southern Utah generated a 4-0 run midway through the set with help from several Maverick attacking errors and a service ace by Amanda Mendoza. The Thunderbirds held the lead the rest of the way and claimed the set 25-21.
Southern Utah carried its momentum into the second set. The Thunderbirds took a 4-2 lead on a kill by Victoria Zibecchi and a service ace by Aleeya Jones. Tobias and McArthur added kills to maintain an 8-4 edge. The Mavericks made a push by scoring three of the next four points, but a kill by Kaitlyn Aleshire halted their progress. Southern Utah closed the set strong with a 5-0 run fueled by a McArthur service ace and a Zibecchi kill to take a 23-19 lead. The Thunderbirds went on to win the set 25-20 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
UT Arlington shifted the momentum in the third set, jumping out to an 8-3 lead with a burst of offensive pressure. Southern Utah chipped away as McArthur delivered two straight kills to cut the deficit to four. The Mavericks kept pace, and a late run helped them secure the set 25-18.
Southern Utah came out in the fourth set determined to finish the match. McArthur opened the scoring with another kill, and Zibecchi, Aleshire, and McArthur combined for 12 kills in the set to keep the offense rolling. A 4-0 run midway through the frame pushed the Thunderbirds ahead 18-14 with two kills from Tobias and a service ace from Mendoza. UT Arlington attempted to rally, but Southern Utah closed out the set 25-19 to take the match 3-1.
What To Watch
Southern Utah will look to continue operating at a high offensive efficiency after turning in its best hitting performance of the season against UT Arlington. The Thunderbirds posted a .308 attack percentage in that match, showcasing improved decision-making and ball control at the net. SUU also limited mistakes, committing only 17 errors over four sets, one of the team's cleanest outings of the year. Addyson McArthur and Victoria Zibecchi will again look to pace the Thunderbird offense, as both have emerged as consistent scoring options capable of carrying the load in key moments.
Southern Utah will also need to be stout defensively to contain Tarleton State's high-powered attack. The Thunderbirds tallied nine blocks in their most recent four-set matchup and will need a similar performance to slow the Texans' trio of offensive threats. Amaya Tobias and Kaitlyn Aleshire will be central to that effort, with both expected to play significant roles in controlling the net and disrupting Tarleton State's rhythm.
Thunderbirds Standouts
Scouting the Texans
The Texans' offense features a three-headed attack in LaNeah Lara, Madison Rice-Locket, and Madison Frank, with all three having notched more than 200 kills this season. Lara leads the group with consistent production on the outside, while Rice-Locket and Frank continue to provide steady scoring options that keep opposing defenses off balance. Together, the trio accounts for a significant portion of Tarleton State's offensive output and has been a driving force behind the Texans' success throughout WAC play.
Defensively, Emma Burke anchors the net for the Texans with 121 blocks on the season, a mark that ranks in the top five in the conference. Her presence in the middle has been a key component of Tarleton State's ability to slow down opponents and control points at the net. On the back line, Morgan Carter directs the Texans' defense with 354 digs, another total that sits among the conference's best. Carter's consistency in serve receive and defensive coverage provides stability for Tarleton State and helps transition the Texans into their offensive sets.
Head Coach Danielle Jensen
"We're coming off one of our most complete offensive performances of the season, and the challenge now is to carry that momentum into Saturday. Tarleton is a great team, and we look forward to the challenge at hand."
Game Information
Opponent: Tarleton State Texans
Date/Time: Saturday, November 15 - 12:30 PM MT
Location: America First Event Center - Cedar City, Utah
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Here
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