PIONEER VOLLEYBALL MOVES TO 4-0 IN CONFERENCE

DENTON, TX—On a night when the offense was not hitting on all cylinders, Texas Woman’s University (9-15, 4-0 LSC) used some good defense to extend their winning streak to seven games as they beat conference rival Cameron (13-10, 3-1 LSC), 31-29, 30-27, 30-27, on the strength of 86 digs and 11 team blocks. The win ended a 10-match losing streak to the Lady Aggies, dating back to 1998. Courtney Lewis (San Antonio, TX/Panola College) led TWU with 15 kills and 19 digs, her seventh double-double of the season.

"This was the most intense match that our team has played this season. After we came back in game one, I could see in our team’s eyes that we were going to win," head coach Shelly Barberee said. "We had four players finish with double digits in kills. When you have so many people hitting well, it makes it difficult for the opposition to defend and that is what happened to Cameron tonight. We are focusing on one game at a time and it is paying off. I am very happy with the way the team played."

In game one, TWU and Cameron were tied 12 times and exchanged the lead five times. The Lady Aggies moved out to a 23-28 lead, but the Pioneers rallied with an 8-1 run, thanks to three late kills from Lewis, to win the game 31-29. It was much of the same in game two, but this time, both teams exchanged the lead 12 times. With the score knotted at 24-24, Marci Brinkman (Carrollton, TX/Newman Smith H.S.) recorded two kills to push TWU to a 30-27 win. In the final frame, the Pioneers recorded a .204 attack percentage with 17 kills and made eight blocks to coast to a 30-27 win. The last time TWU won a match against Cameron was Oct. 25, 1997. That year, the Pioneers went 10-0 in conference and won the Lone Star Conference North Division.

"This team has been working hard all season and now all of that work is paying off. We are playing well and getting victories, which is what we need to get to where we want to go," junior middle blocker Jenny Madrid (Panama City/Hill College) said. "It took us a while, but this team has come together and now we can achieve our goals for the season."

TWU finished the match with 53 kills and 21 errors on 171 swings for a .187 attack percentage. Three other Pioneers finished in double digits in kills along with Lewis. Madrid chipped in with 13 kills with Heather Smith (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala H.S.) turning in 11. Brinkman finished with 11 kills and a season-high six block assists. Carley Messmer (Garland, TX/UT-San Antonio) continued her consistent play with 47 assists and 10 digs.

Up next, the Pioneers host Central Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 18 beginning at 2 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.