Who | Utah Tech (5-9, 1-3 WAC) at Tarleton State (11-7, 2-2 WAC) / at Abilene Christian (7-9, 2-2 WAC)
When | Thursday, Oct. 5 – 5 p.m. / Saturday, Oct. 7 – 12 p.m.
Where | Wisdom Gym - Stephenville, Texas / Moody Coliseum – Abilene, Texas
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

'DOGS SPLIT PAIR OF WAC MATCHES: Utah Tech wrapped up September getting swept on the road at UTRGV last Saturday and got October underway on Monday with a sweep over Southern Utah at Burns Arena. The Trailblazers enter this week tied for eighth with Utah Valley in the WAC with a 1-3 record.

BULLDOGS IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION: The Trailblazers posted a 4-6 mark in non-conference action with wins over Manhattan, CSU Bakersfield, New Mexico & Idaho while falling in five-set battles to Weber State, Fresno State and Marshall. Competing in three tournaments, the Blazers had three players earn All-Tournament honors in Emma Ricks (Weber State Invite), Sydney Reese (New Mexico Lobo Invite & UT Invite) & Taela Laufiso (Weber State, New Mexico Lobo Invite & UT Invite).

UTAH TECH SERIES vs. TEXANS: The Trailblazers and Tarleton State have met five times in series history with Utah Tech dropping the last two meetings, including falling in four sets at home in 2022. The Blazers last played the Texans in Texas in 2021 when they met on a neutral site court in Abilene. The Blazers last visit to Stephenville came in the spring of 2021 splitting a pair of matches.

UTAH TECH SERIES vs. WILDCATS: The Trailblazers and Abilene Christian will face off for the fourth time in series history. Utah Tech swept the Wildcats at home in 2022 and won in five sets in Abilene in 2021. Their lone prior meeting to those two meetings came in 2008 being swept in Durango, Colo.

A LOOK AT TARLETON STATE: Tarleton State is 11-7 on the season with a 2-2 record in the WAC with wins at home over Utah Valley and Seattle. The Texans are 6-3 at home and are coming off a pair of road WAC losses at California Baptist and Grand Canyon.

Tarleton State ranks second in the WAC in assists per set (12.43), kills per set (13.41) & digs (1,026), fourth in hitting percentage (.235), tied for fourth in digs per set (14.66), fifth in service aces per set (1.51), are tied for sixth in blocks per set (1.81) and are sixth in opposing hitting percentage (.223).

Individually, sophomore middle blocker Emma Burke leads the WAC in service ace (28), is second in blocks (73) and ranks fourth in the WAC in blocks per set (1.03). Junior outside hitter Allison Bryant is fourth in kills per set (3.53) while junior defensive specialist Matti Theurer also ranks second in the WAC in digs (268).

A LOOK AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN: Abilene Christian is 7-9 overall on the season and is also out to a 2-2 start to WAC play with a sweep over Seattle at home and a five-set win at California Baptist. The Wildcats are 5-2 at home and also have wins in Abilene over Providence, North Dakota, Grambling State and Texas Tech.

As a team, ACU ranks third in aces per set (1.82), service aces (113), team attacks (2,211) and is fourth in digs per set (14.66), assists (708) and opposing hitting percentage (.205). 

Individually, sophomore libero Sara Carrizales ranks second in the WAC in digs (247) and is fourth in digs per set (3.98). Junior setter Madeline Guffy is second in the WAC in aces per set (0.48), third in assists per set (9.31) and is fifth in service aces (23) & assists (447).

WAC RANKINGS: The Blazers rank third in opposing hitting percentage (.181), fourth in service aces (92) & service aces per set (1.67), sixth in blocks per set (1.89), kills (650) & blocks (104.0), seventh in kills per set (11.82) & eighth in hitting percentage (.177).

Sophomore Kennedi Knudsen, coming off a season-high 19 kills and a .469 hitting percentage against Southern Utah on Monday, ranks fourth in the WAC in total attacks (493), is sixth in kills per set (3.11) and senior Emma Ricks is 10th in digs (183).

HOME SCHEDULE: The Trailblazers' close out its home schedule with five more home matches against Utah Valley, Seattle, Stephen F. Austin, UT Arlington & UTRGV.

ON THE ROAD: Since joining the NCAA ranks in 2006, Utah Tech has recorded a 95-94 (.503) record in true-road games and has logged a winning record on the road nine times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019). Additionally, the Trailblazers have posted a 39-51 (.433) record in neutral-site games, including a 2-2 mark this season.

UP NEXT: The Trailblazers return home next week to host Utah Valley on Oct. 12 and Seattle on Oct. 14 at Burns Arena.