UAFS' impressive late-season run came to an end Thursday evening as the No. 8 seed Lady Lions volleyball team suffered a season-ending, three-set loss to No. 1 seed and No. 13-ranked Tarleton State in the first round of South Central Region play in the NCAA Division II National Tournament at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas.

Tarleton State won the match 25-16, 25-23, 25-14, winning its second match against UAFS this season.

The TexAnns (30-4) beat the Lady Lions (20-12) in five sets during the Dixie State Desert Garden Inn by Wyndham on Sept. 1 at Burns Arena in St. George, Utah. Tarleton State's win also evened the all-time series with UAFS at three wins apiece.

UAFS hit at just a 0.104 against the tough Tarleton State defense, collecting 32 kills on 134 attempts with 18 errors. Only senior middle hitter Debra Rogers collected double-digit kills, finishing with 10 to lead the Lady Lions.

Freshman setter Taylor Stoops finished with 30 assists and served the Lady Lions' only ace.

Tarleton State collected eight total team blocks with senior middle hitter Hannah McManus accounting for one solo block and four block assists. The TexAnns had 73 digs with senior libero Adrianna Knutson collecting a team-high 26 digs.

The TexAnns, who won the Lone Star Conference regular-season title and finished as conference tournament runner-up, hit at a 0.230 clip with 50 kills on 139 attempts with 18 errors. Sophomore middle hitter Amber Strange and junior outside hitter Adriana Darthuy each had 11 kills to lead the TexAnns.

Senior setter Blanca Izquierdo had 22 assists, and she, McManus and Darthuy each served one of Tarleton State's aces.

UAFS had five total blocks with Rogers accounting for three solo blocks. The Lady Lions also collected 61 digs with redshirt freshman libero Pilar Onstad tallying 19 digs and Stoops topping off her double-double with 12 digs.