WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Tarleton State's Katie Covell and Nikki McNorton combined for 20 kills to lead the TexAnns to a 25-18, 25-15, 26-24 win over Midwestern State in Lone Star Conference play Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

The loss was the fifth straight for the Mustangs who fell to 4-17 on the season and to 2-9 in conference play.

Junior middle blocker Caitlin Wallace led the MSU attack with nine kills while senior outside hitter Shelbi Stewart and junior middle blocker Michelle Blount added eight kills each.

Behind Covell's 10-kill effort, Tarleton State blitzed through the opening two sets with a .321 team attack percentage while forcing the Mustangs into 14 team attack errors and a.099 team attack percentage.

Midwestern rallied to battle the TexAnns in a tight third set and managed a set point at 24-23 when Villalba blasted her eighth and final kill of the contest.

But Tarleton claimed the next three points culminated by an Emily Klein service ace to close out the match.

Blount led the Mustangs at the net with three total blocks while Villalba and Decker joined Wallace with two blocks each, while sophomore libero Casey Fletcher had 18 digs to lead back row efforts.

McNorton finished with nine kills and three total blocks while Kelsey Raglan eight kills and seven digs for the TexAnns.

Midwestern State begins a six-match, three-week road swing with matches at Texas A&M-Kingsville and Incarnate Word next weekend.