PORTALES, N.M. (Nov. 8) – Four TWU players recorded double-digit kills but it wasn't enough as the Pioneers dropped a five-set game, 25-17, 25-27, 21-25, 25-18 and 12-15, at Eastern New Mexico in their 2014 regular season finale.
 
TWU senior Jaqueline Santos had a game-high 18 kills while the Pioneers' sophomore Mallory Kuechle added 14 kills and 21 digs.  Junior Hillary Shaffer chipped in 13 kills and seven total blocks and freshman Elizabeth Pennington finished with 11 kills for TWU.  Senior Morgan Wilson was the Pioneers' leader on defense with 27 digs and junior Joey Redwine finished with 55 assists and 11 digs for TWU.
 
In set one, the Pioneers jumped out to a 9-4 lead before Eastern New Mexico scored five straight points to tie the score.  TWU answered with a 9-4 run to go back on top by five points and closed out the set on a 7-4 run.
 
In the second set, the Pioneers built a 15-10 lead and were up 22-17 before ENMU made a run.  The Zias used a 7-2 run to tie the score at 24-24.  TWU was up 25-24 before Eastern New Mexico scored three straight points to win the set.
 
In the third set both teams went back and forth.  With the score tied at 21-21, the Zias scored four straight points on three kills and a Pioneers' error to take a two games to one lead.
 
The Pioneers regrouped in the fourth and jumped out to an early 5-1 lead.  TWU pushed its advantage to six points, 18-13, before winning the set by seven points to force a fifth and deciding set.
 
In the fifth set, both teams split the first six points before ENMU went on a 3-0 run on a kill and two Pioneers' errors.  Trailing, 12-8, TWU rallied to cut the deficit to one, 13-12, but the Zias closed out the game on two straight points.
 
"We have been inconsistent for the past five games and again we played well in couple of sets but struggled in the other three," said TWU head coach Shelly Barberee.  "We were able to come out on top in the previous games but today it hurt us."
 
The Pioneers will return to action when they play in the 2014 Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament on Nov. 13-15.
 
"We are starting postseason next week and we need to start playing better," Barberee said.  "We can't take chances like this."