STEPHENVILLE, Texas -- Midwestern State struggled in its attack resulting in its third consecutive defeat Saturday at Wisdom Gym South falling to Tarleton State 15-25, 16-25, 13-25 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
The Mustangs, who dropped to 7-4 on the season and to 0-3 in league play, return to D.L. Ligon Coliseum for three matches next week playing host to Eastern New Mexico Tuesday at 7 p.m. before facing off against Texas Woman's and Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday and Saturday.
 
MSU committed 15 attack errors over the first two sets and finally broke into positive numbers with an 8-kill, 4-error effort to close the match with a .037 overall attack percentage.
 
Senior middle blocker Caitlin Wallace was the effective attack option for MSU finishing with a team-high six kills while committing a single miscue in 19 attacks for a .263 kill rate, while Kaitlyn Molloy added five kills and two errors (.188).
 
Tarleton State sophomore middle blocker Meg Umbel paced the TexAnns at the net getting her hand on five of TSU's seven total team blocks for the match while pitching in six kills.
 
Offensively, senior outside hitter Stacie Murrah led Tarleton with 12 kills but efficient 8-kill efforts by outside hitters Katie Covell and Jazmine Green helped the TexAnns to an efficient .252 total team attack.
 
The Mustangs held brief one-point leads early in the opening two sets but never threatened the TexAnns after extending No. 9-ranked Angelo State to five sets Friday night in San Angelo.
 
Tarleton State claimed its second straight win to improve to 7-4 and 2-0.