STEPHENVILLE, Texas - Midwestern State's Shelbi Stewart and Caitlin Wallace combined for 19 kills but it wasn't enough to overcome Tarleton State Friday night at Wisdom Gym as the TexAnns claimed a 25-18, 25-17, 25-19 win in the both squad's Lone Star Conference opener.
 
Stewart tallied double-figure kills for the sixth consecutive match finishing with 11 while adding a season-high 16 digs to notch her third double-double in her last four outings. The Pflugerville native remained efficient committing four errors in 31 total attacks to hit .226.
 
Wallace, a junior from Amarillo, committed just a single error while putting down eight kills to hit an impressive .333 out of a middle blocker position.
 
But it wasn't enough to overcome a stout Tarleton State attack paced by sophomore outside hitter Katie Covell's 13-kill effort while junior outside hitter Stacie Murrah and senior middle blocker Nikki McNorton added 10 kills each.
 
The Mustangs struggled on the attack committing 19 errors as a team while swinging into eight blocks including a total of six by the 5-9 McNorton.
 
Sophomore libero Casey Fletcher added 11 digs while junior Beatriz Villalba and sophomore Kasey Decker joined Wallace and Stewart with a block each.
 
The TexAnns improved to 6-3 by claiming their fourth consecutive victory. TSU also moved to 4-1 at Wisdom Gym.
 
The Mustangs (2-7) continue the road trip Saturday afternoon at No. 13 Angelo State. First serve is set for 2 p.m.