DENTON, Texas (Oct. 23) – Four Pioneers recorded double-doubles in a five-set victory over visiting West Texas A&M Friday night in Kitty Magee Arena.  TWU won, 25-18, 25-12, 19-25, 22-25, and 19-17, and improved to 17-5 on the season and 7-3 in the Lone Star Conference.
 
The Pioneers swept the season series against WTAMU for the first time in school history.  TWU also won at home against the Lady Buffs for the first time since Oct. 4, 1996.
 
The Pioneers were led by senior Hillary Shaffer with 17 kills and a .343 hitting percentage.  Junior Mallory Kuechle and freshman Makayla Mayfield both added 14 kills.  They also had 19 and 20 digs respectively for the double-doubles.  Junior Sara Oxford posted 12 kills and 12 digs while senior Joey Redwine had 55 assists and 26 digs.
 
TWU tied the season-high in team blocks with 15 led by Shaffer and sophomore Briley Cole with eight each.  Oxford also had seven blocks.
 
In set one both teams traded points until the Pioneers went on an 8-1 run to take a 19-11 lead.  West Texas A&M had a late run but TWU posted a .333 hitting percentage to close out the set.
 
In the second it was all Pioneers from the beginning.  TWU jumped out to a 4-1 lead before pushing it to 12-3 lead with seven straight points.  The Pioneers captured a 13-point win after hitting .484.
 
In the third set TWU struggled with 10 hitting errors.  The Lady Buffs built an early 9-6 lead before TWU went on a 9-5 run to go on top 15-14.  WTAMU scored six of the next seven points to regain the lead and held on for a six-point win.
 
In the fourth the Lady Buffs again built an early 9-6 lead but TWU scored 10 straight points to take a 16-9 lead.  With the Pioneers leading, 19-13, WTAMU went on a 9-1 run to go on top 22-20.  The Lady Buffs closed out the set by scoring three of the next five points to force a fifth set.
 
In the fifth set, TWU took an early 6-4 lead but West Texas A&M scored four straight points to go on top 8-6.  The Pioneers responded with four consecutive points of their own to regain the lead.  With TWU leading, 12-10, the Lady Buffs used a 3-0 run to take a 13-12 lead.  The Pioneers answered with back-to-back points to go back on top.  After WTAMU erased four game points, TWU used a kill by Shaffer and a double-block by Oxford and Redwine to capture the set and the game.
 
"We were relaxed and played well in the first two sets and then we started to play safe in the next two sets," said TWU head coach Shelly Barberee.  "West Texas A&M took advantage and won the next two sets to force a fifth set.  They had the momentum going into the final set but we regrouped and played well.  Hillary and Sara both had great game on both offense and at the net.  Mallory, Briley and Makayla also had some big kills."
 
The Pioneers will return to action when they host Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 24.  First serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.