COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 12) – The TWU volleyball team split on the second day at the Steel & Silver Classic in Colorado Springs, CO.  The Pioneers fell to Missouri Western, 15-25, 27-25, 25-16, and 17-25 before bouncing back to sweep Adams State, 25-22, 25-16, and 25-14.
 
Against Missouri Western four Pioneers recorded nine or more kills but it wasn't enough as they fell in four sets.  TWU was led by freshman Makayla Mayfield with a game-high 15 kills.  Junior Mallory Kuechle added 12 kills while senior Hillary Shaffer and junior Sara Oxford finished with nine kills each.
 
Kuechle and Mayfield both recorded double-doubles with 19 and 13 digs respectively.  Senior Torie Talkington also posted 19 digs while senior Joey Redwine finished with 38 assists and 12 digs.
 
In the second game against Adams State the Pioneers bounced back with a sweep led by Shaffer with a game-high 16 kills and a .714 hitting percentage.  Kuechle also added 11 kills and a .435 hitting percentage and Oxford posted seven kills and a .462 hitting percentage.
 
The Pioneers recorded 11 team blocks led by Shaffer and Kuechle with five block assists each.  TWU also recorded a season-high .389 team hitting percentage.
 
"We played well at this tournament against some quality teams and three regional opponents," said TWU head coach Shelly Barberee.  "We had one bad set this entire tournament and that was the first set against Missouri Western this morning.  Our entire team played well this weekend.  Marllory had good day today on both offense and defense and Hillary dominated the second game against Adams State.  I am very happy with the result this weekend."
 
The Pioneers will return to Texas and then head west to open their Lone Star Conference schedule on Friday, Sept. 18.  TWU will travel to Portales, NM, to face Eastern New Mexico on Friday at 7:00 p.m. (CST) at Greyhound Arena.