THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS – Midwestern State made three-time All-American Hailey Roberts work for her number and took a set off of 14th-ranked Tarleton State Friday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
But it wasn't enough to give the Mustangs the decisive victory they needed to climb back into the race for a berth in the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament.
 
MSU (13-14, 6-11) remains two games behind Texas Woman's for the final postseason spot after falling 13-25, 21-25, 26-24, 14-25 to the TexAnns, who improved to 23-5 and 15-2.
 
Roberts posted a double-double with 17 kills and 19 digs, but took 57 swings and hit .175 to reach her numbers and Midwestern showed grit to extend the match by closing the third set with a flurry despite playing without senior setter Kristan Aduddell over the final two frames.
 
The Mustangs staved off a pair of match points and rattled off four consecutive winners including two from Rockelle Gholson to win the frame, 26-24.
 
Gholson paced MSU with 14 kills and finished a double-double of her own with 12 dig, while senior outside hitter Meghan Bettis added nine kills and freshman middle blocker Raven Pressley had eight.
 
Senior libero Aerielle Edwards paced back row efforts with 25 digs, while Leah Lychock worked for 17.
 
Gunderson finished with 24 set assists and 11 digs in her first action of the season.
 
NOTES
- Junior setter Ellie Gunderson landed her second collegiate double-double setting a career high with 24 set assists Friday against No. 14 Tarleton State to go along with 11 digs. It was her first action since the 2015 season.
- Junior Rockelle Gholson notched eight match with 10-or-more kills this season finishing with 14 against Tarleton State. She closed out her third double-double with 12 digs.
- Senior libero Aerielle Edwards posted her third straight and 10th match with at least 20 digs this season with 25 against the TexAnns. She is averaging 6.00 digs per set in her last 12 sets over three matches.
- Midwestern State three team blocks against Tarleton State were the fewest since the Mustangs had one in the season opener against Rockhurst.
- With 879 career kills, senior Meghan Bettis moved to within two kills of Hillary White (881/2008-11) for 13th on the program's all-time kills list.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State battles 23rd-ranked Angelo State Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. First serve is set for noon.