Tarleton State Invitational Wisdom Volleyball Gym | Stephenville, Texas
Opp.	Oklahoma Baptist (0-0)	#16 Central Oklahoma (1-0)	Black Hills State (0-2)	Harding (2-1)
Date Time	L, 3-0 (17-25, 17-25, 17-25)	W, 3-2 (25-22, 25-23, 17-25, 13-25, 17-15)	W, 3-0 (27-25, 26-24, 25-21)	L, 0-3 (12-25, 12-26, 18-25)
Stats	Box Score	Box Score	Box Score	Box Score
Video	Recap	Recap	Recap	Recap
Series History	Series tied 1-1	UCO leads 22-5	MSU leads 1-0	HU leads 5-1
Opp. Info	Return five starters from last season's 18-15 squad; picked third in GAC Preseason Poll	Return four starters from last season's 29-6 squad; picked third in MIAA Preseason Poll	Return three starters from last season's 11-17 squad; picked ninth in RMAC Preseason Poll	Return five starters from last season's 27-6 squad; picked second in GAC Preseason Poll
Player to Watch	Mikayla Watson R-So., OH 3.31 K/S and 3.42 D/S	Taylor Bevis Sr., OH All-American and MIAA POTY	Ellise Lech Sr., OH 2.74 Pts/S and 2.46 K/S	Zoe Hardin Sr., MB All-American and GAC POTY

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State begins a new era as the 2018 season tips off in Stephenville at the Tarleton State Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Mustangs take on Oklahoma Baptist and 16^th-ranked Central Oklahoma on Friday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, before wrapping up play with Black Hills State and Harding on Saturday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
 
Quick Hits
Armstrong Era Begins: Valerie Armstrong begins her first season at the helm of the Mustangs' program this weekend. The former Oklahoma Panhandle State standout revitalized the Vernon Junior College volleyball program from 2009-12, improving the Chaps from seven wins to 13 to 17 before producing one of the program's best campaigns in 2012, posting a 32-7 mark as NJCAA Region V runner-up ending the year ranked 15^th nationally. The Brule, Neb., native spent the last four seasons as the top assistant for Glenn Kiriyama at Binghamton (N.Y.). The Bearcats advanced to America East postseason play in each of her four seasons on staff, reaching the finals last fall.
 
Put Some Respeck On My Name: Angelo State was picked as the conference's preseason favorite with 304 points and eight of 30 first place votes. West Texas A&M garnered 282 points and 10 first place nods after making a run to the South Central Regional Finals a season ago. Tarleton State, the league's champion in 2017, snagged 277 points and seven first place votes while Texas A&M-Commerce followed closely with 263 points and four first place pick. Texas Woman's (197 points), Texas A&M-Kingsville (191), Eastern New Mexico (133), MSU Texas (100), Western New Mexico (98), Cameron (80) and UT Permian Basin (55) rounded out the poll.
 
Return of the Mack: Seniors Kristin Silva and Rockelle Gholson will be leaned on heavily this year in their final season to don the Maroon and Gold. Silva saw action in 31 matches last season as a defensive specialist, racking up 210 digs and 35 aces while Gholson leads all returners with 220 kills. Juniors Sarah Eakin (1.17 kills and 0.96 blocks per set) and Erin Richburg (1.88 kills and 2.41 digs per set) along with sophomores Raven Presley (1.80 kills and 1.06 blocks per set) and Kylah Broadnax (played in 10 matches in 2017) headline the remaining returners for MSU Texas.
 
Redshirt Quartet: Four players served redshirt seasons in 2017 in Tiara Wilson, Addy Cook, Sarah Glawe and Natalie Fruend.
 
New Kids on the Block: The Mustangs welcomed a wealth of talent to the program this offseason with a strong signing class. Samantha Manio, Taylor Anderson, Savannah Jones, Lauren Honeycutt and Katelyn Easley join MSU Texas after stellar prep careers. Sophomores Julia Nelson and Jaycie Fuller transferred into the program after freshman campaigns at Oklahoma Baptist and Arkansas-Fort Smith, respectively.
 
Up Next: MSU Texas completes non-conference action next weekend at the Nebraska-Kearney Invitational. The Mustangs head north to face Newman and Nebraska-Kearney on Friday before the showdown with South Dakota Mines and Minot State on Saturday.