DENTON, Texas (Nov. 1) – The TWU volleyball team defeated visiting Texas A&M-Kingsville, 28-30, 25-17, 21-25, 25-17 and 16-14, on Saturday afternoon in its final home game of the 2014 regular season. 
 
The third consecutive five-set win for the Pioneers improved the team's record to 18-7 on the season and 11-3 in the Lone Star Conference.
 
Prior to the first serve, TWU recognized its five seniors – Katelyn Barnett, Kelci Lind, Kayla Rivero, Jaqueline Santos and Morgan Wilson - in a pregame  Senior Day ceremony.
 
Against the Javelinas, the Pioneers were led by sophomore Mallory Kuechle's game and career-high 21 kills.  Freshman Elizabeth Pennington had 18 kills while Santos added 13 for TWU.  Wilson led the Pioneers on defense with a game-high 30 digs and junior Joey Redwine assisted on 51 kills for the home team.  Kuechle also had 10 digs to record her fourth straight double-double.
 
In the first set, both teams went back and forth with 18 ties and 11 lead changes.  After splitting the first 20 points, the Pioneers scored three straight points to take a 13-10 lead.  TAMUK responded with a 6-1 run to go on top 16-14.  Trailing by one point, 28-27, the Javelinas scored three straight points to take the first set.
 
In the second set, it was all Pioneers as they jumped out to a 10-7 lead and never looked back.  TWU extended the lead to eight points, 19-11, before winning the set 25-17.  The Pioneers posted six team blocks in the set and forced 10 hitting errors by TAMUK.
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville led from start to finish in the third set to take a 2-1 lead.  The Javelinas built an early 15-9 lead before TWU scored four straight points.  TAMUK responded with a 6-0 run to push the lead to eight points before winning the set by four.
 
The fourth set belonged to the Pioneers as the posted a .407 hitting percentage and had just one hitting error in an eight-point win.  Leading, 20-15, TWU closed out the set on a 5-2 run and forced the deciding fifth set.
 
In the final set, the Pioneers built a 10-7 lead but Texas A&M-Kingsville rallied to tie the score at 12-12 with a 5-2 run.  Both teams traded the next four points before TWU closed out the game on a hitting error by TAMUK and a kill by freshman Briley Cole.
 
"We are still not playing consistent throughout the game," said TWU head coach Shelly Barberee.  "The two sets we lost we struggled with our service receive.  I am glad we got the win on Senior Day.  The five girls we honored today were key contributors to the success we have had for the past few years."
 
TWU will now hit the road to close out the regular season.  The Pioneers will travel to Canyon, TX, to face West Texas A&M on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m.