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Life > Athletics > Volleyball > 10/13/07
HARLAN SERVES UP WIN FOR PIONEERS
Box Score
 DENTON, Texas (October 13) – A school-record tying nine service aces from freshman outside hitter Alyson Harlan carried the Texas Woman’s University Pioneers to a five-game victory (30-15, 25-30, 30-22, 29-31, 15-4) over the Eastern New Mexico University Zias on Saturday afternoon at Kitty Magee Arena.
Harlan (pictured) started the match with two aces in game one. In the third game, she racked up five more aces. In the fourth game, she fired off two more service winners.
In the 38-year history of the Pioneers volleyball program, four other players have recorded nine service aces in one match. The last individual to accomplish the feat was Ana Kordic on September 18, 2004, versus Oklahoma Panhandle State.
In addition to her service proficiency, Harlan excelled on the attack for TWU, putting down 16 kills on 24 swings. Junior middle blocker Kandis Schroeder (24 kills), sophomore middle blocker Danielle Pegues (15 kills), freshman middle blocker LyGene’ Traylor (14 kills), and freshman setter Sydney Veitenheimer (59 assists) also contributed mightily to the Pioneers’ offensive efforts.
TWU head coach Shelly Barberee was effusive in her praise of Harlan after the game.
“Alyson is such a talented volleyball player,” she said. “She’s got all the potential in the world, and today she played up to that potential. She got her serve working in the first game and that really gave her a boost of confidence. It was a lot of fun to watch her play so well today.”
Despite Harlan’s brilliance, TWU still split the first four games of the match with the Zias. In the decisive fifth game, however, the Pioneers’ raised their level of play and cruised to an easy win. Traylor hammered down six kills, while Schroeder and Pegues put away three balls apiece. For the game, TWU posted an outstanding .500 team attack percentage.
“It was just a matter regaining the momentum,” said Barberee of her team’s play in game five. “We made too many mistakes (25 attack errors and 11 service errors) throughout the match and that let them (ENMU) hang around. In the fifth game, we stepped it up and were finally able to put them away.”
Senior outside hitter Randi Egley, with 14 kills, was the Zias top player in defeat. Freshman outside hitter Brittany Brame also enjoyed a solid match for ENMU as she totaled 11 kills.
The conference victory by the Pioneers raises their season record to 12-9 and 4-3 in the LSC. The loss drops the Zias’ season mark to 3-20 and 0-7 in conference play.
TWU will play their next three matches on the road before returning to their home court on Thursday, October 25, to meet the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions at 7:00 p.m. |
