DENTON, Texas (Sept. 4) – The TWU volleyball team opened the 2015 season with two wins at the Hilton Garden Inn Classic in Kitty Magee Arena. The Pioneers were led by newcomers, junior
Sara Oxford and freshman
Makayla Mayfield.
TWU swept Arkansas at Monticello in straight sets, 25-20, 25-15 and 25-19 and then defeated Harding in four sets, 27-25, 25-22, 19-25 and 25-15.
Playing in their first career game in Maroon and White against UAM, Mayfield and Oxford both recorded double digit kills. In her first collegiate game, Mayfield led all players with 11 kills and led the team with 18 digs. Oxford added 10 kills while senior
Torie Talkington chipped in 15 digs after starting as a libero for the first time in her career.
"We started slow in the very beginning but we picked it up and played an overall good match," said TWU head coach
Shelly Barberee. "Makayla leading in both kills and digs in her inaugural game is pretty good."
Against Harding the Pioneers used a balance attack with five players reaching double digit kills. Four players also recorded double-doubles. Senior
Hillary Shaffer led the team with 14 kills while sophomore
Haley Collins added 13 kills. Oxford had 12 kills while Mayfield finished with 11 kills and junior
Mallory Kuechle chipped in 10 kills. Senior setter
Joey Redwine ran the offense and posted 52 assists.
Kuechle led five players in digs with 20 while Mayfield added 19, Talkington chipped in 14 and Oxford and Redwine finished with 12 each.
"All our hitters that played against Harding recorded double digit kills and that's amazing," Barberee said. "Our offense played better and our blocking was better compared to the first game. We ran a 5-1 offense today and we haven't done that in a while. We also had a new libero and Torie did a good job in her new position."
The Pioneers will return to action when they play two more games on Saturday, Sept. 5 at the Hilton Garden Inn Classic. TWU will face Arkansas Tech at noon before closing out the tournament against UC-Colorado Springs at 5:00 p.m.
