Mountaineers Complete UNT Invitational Sweep with a Straight-Set Victory Over Tarleton State

Saturday, September 19

Denton, Texas

12 p.m.

West Virginia University

7-3,0-0Big 12

Tarleton State

4-9,0-0UAC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Tarleton St.	23	22	21	0
West Virginia	25	25	25	3

Anna Barr finishes a kill while playing against Tarleton State in the UNT Invitational

Mountaineers Complete UNT Invitational Sweep with a Straight-Set Victory Over Tarleton State

September 19, 2026 02:32 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Season Stats

By: Farris Murad

DENTON, Texas – The West Virginia University volleyball team (7-3, 0-0 Big 12) earned its first straight-set victory of the season, defeating Tarleton State (4-9, 0-0 United) by set scores of 25-23, 25-22 and 25-21 on Saturday afternoon at the UNT Volleyball Center in Denton, Texas.

WVU finished the week 3-0 and extended its neutral-site win streak to 10 matches, dating back to 2025. With the win, the Mountaineers finish the nonconference slate with two tournament victories.

West Virginia controlled the match offensively, hitting .253 as a team while holding Tarleton State to a .143 hitting percentage. The Mountaineers also held a 10-3 advantage in team blocks.

Senior outside hitter Nina Horning and sophomore outside hitter Anna Barr led the Mountaineers with 10 kills apiece. Horning hit .308 and added three aces, while Barr posted a .409 hitting percentage on 22 attacks. Senior opposite Trinity Sheridan added nine kills while hitting .438.

Senior setter Alexis Finnvold directed the WVU offense with 19 assists, while senior middle blocker Maddy McGath recorded five kills on .500 hitting and a team-high six blocks. Freshman middle blocker Mirjam Karoliine Kask and Horning each contributed four blocks as the Mountaineers totaled 10 on the afternoon.

West Virginia opened the match by taking an early 3-0 lead in the first set before Tarleton State battled back to even the score at 13. The Mountaineers never relinquished the lead and used a kill from Horning and an attack error by the Texans to take a 24-21 lead. After the Texans pulled within one, McGath closed out the set with a kill to give WVU a 25-23 victory.

The second set featured 16 ties and 10 lead changes before West Virginia pulled away late. With the score tied at 19, a kill from Barr and a kill from freshman outside hitter Macie Smith put the Mountaineers ahead 21-19. WVU closed the set with three consecutive blocks, including blocks from Barr and McGath before McGath and Horning teamed up for the final block to secure the 25-22 win.

WVU came out strong in the third set, jumping to a 9-3 lead before extending its advantage to 16-10. Tarleton State mounted a late rally, cutting the deficit to 22-20, but the Mountaineers held on. After a Texans service error made it 24-21, Finnvold delivered an ace to clinch the 25-21 set and complete the sweep.

The Mountaineers return to action for the start of Big 12 Conference play, hosting No. 12 Arizona State on Friday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. ET.

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