PORTALES, N.M. (Sept. 18) – Three players recorded double-doubles to help the Pioneers start the 2015 Lone Star Conference schedule with a win at Eastern New Mexico.  TWU defeated the Greyhounds in four sets, 25-16, 25-18, 25-27, and 25-22.
 
The Pioneers were led by freshman Makayla Mayfield with 13 kills and 10 digs while junior Sara Oxford added 11 kills and 12 digs and junior Mallory Kuechle posted 10 kills and 13 digs.  Senior Torie Talkington and freshman Emma Petolick both reached double digits in digs with 10 and 11 respectively. 
 
TWU posted a season-high 14 team blocks led by Oxford and senior Hillary Shaffer with five each.  Sophomore Haley Collins had four while Kuechle and senior Joey Redwine had three each.
 
In the first set the Pioneers built a four-point lead early but Eastern New Mexico rallied to cut the deficit to two points, 11-9.  TWU answered with four straight points to push the lead to six and closed out the set on a 6-1 run.
 
In the second the Pioneers jumped out to a 10-point lead, 14-4, and were up 18-10 before ENMU made a run.  The Greyhounds went on a 6-1 run to cut the deficit to three points but TWU again responded with a 6-2 run to close out the set.
 
In the third set it's the Greyhounds that jumped out to an early 6-3 lead.  TWU rallied to tie the score at 8-8 and neither team led by more than two points the rest of the way.  After 10 ties and five lead changes the Pioneers took a 24-22 lead but ENMU went on a 5-1 run to force the fourth set.
 
The Greyhounds again took an early 8-5 lead in the fourth set but TWU went on an 8-3 run to go on top 13-11.  ENMU responded by scoring eight of the next nine points to take a five-point lead.  The Pioneers used a 6-1 run to even the score at 20-20 and then scored five the next seven points to close out the game.
 
"We played well in the first two sets and then struggled with our passing in the third," said TWU head coach Shelly Barberee.  "We still had a chance to close out in the third but couldn't get the kill we needed.  Anytime you can pick up a road conference win is huge.  Eastern New Mexico is always a tough opponent when we play them on their court."
 
The Pioneers are now 7-2 on the season and 1-0 in the conference.  TWU will now head to Canyon, TX, to face West Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 19.  First serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in WTAMU Field House.