STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Nov. 19) – The TWU volleyball team advanced to the semifinals at the LSC Championship Tournament with a 25-14, 25-8, and 25-16, win over Texas A&M-Commerce in the quarterfinals.
 
The Pioneers swept A&M-Commerce for the third time this season including twice in week.  TWU played the regular season finale in Commerce on Friday, Nov. 13.
 
Senior Hillary Shaffer led the game with eight kills and a .471 hitting percentage.  Senior Joey Redwine also posted a .312 hitting percentage and finished the game with six kills, 19 assists and six digs.  Junior Mallory Kuechle led the game with 16 digs.
 
In the opening set the Pioneers dominated from the get go as they posted a .300 hitting percentage while holding A&M-Commerce to a -.031.  TWU started the game with a 7-1 run and extended it to 16-7 lead with another 5-1 run.  The Lions cut the deficit to six with a 4-1 run but the Pioneers closed out the set on a 6-1 run.
 
TWU continued its dominance in the second set and posted a .375 hitting percentage.  The Pioneers again held A&M-Commerce to a negative hitting percentage in the set.  TWU started the set on a 12-2 run and allowed back-to-back points to the Lions just once.
 
In the third set the Pioneers trailed early but an 8-0 run gave TWU a 12-3 lead. The Lions rallied to cut their deficit to four points, 17-13, but another 6-0 run by the Pioneers extended their lead to 10.  TWU captured a nine-point win after splitting the final four points.
 
"We stuck to our game plan and played really well," said TWU head coach Shelly Barberee.  "We served well throughout the game and kept them out of the rhythm.  In the first two sets our hitting percentage was very good with very few errors.  Overall it was a great game and we need to carry this momentum into the game tomorrow."
 
The Pioneers will now advance to the championship semifinals for the third time in the last four years.  TWU will face Angelo State at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20 in Wisdom Gym South on the campus of Tarleton State.