KINGSVILLE, Texas (Oct. 29, 2016) – Texas Woman's University opened with a 25-18 set one win over Texas A&M-Kingsville but then fell in straight sets (17-25, 19-25, 18-25) to Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday afternoon on Hampton Inn Court.
 
The Pioneers (7-17, 3-12 LSC) hit well around the Javelina defense by allowing just three blocks from the team that leads the league in per set average with 2.31. Sara Oxford recorded a team-high 15 kills while Haley Collins and Courtney Noel each added 10.
 
Back-to-back kills by Noel began the offense for the Pioneers in set one before the Javelinas (20-7, 10-5 LSC) came back to take an 8-7 lead. Seven straight points by TWU produced a 14-8 lead until TAMUK closed to within 17-15. A Jade Akins back row kill capped a 6-0 Pioneer run for a 23-15 advantage and kills by Collins and Oxford ended the set.
 
Noel and Kerstin Jenkins registered kills and Katy Ranes served over an ace for a 4-0 TWU lead in set two, but the Javelinas soon evened up the score at 8-8. Another Noel kill put the Pioneers in front at 12-11 before six straight points by TAMUK opened up the set at 17-12. Collins pulled the Pioneers to within 18-15, but the Javelinas were able to tie the match at one set apiece.
 
In set three, TWU again started strong with a 4-1 edge, but TAMUK tied things up within the next three possessions. Oxford delivered a kill on a slide to make it a 13-12 game in favor of the Javelinas. A kill and three straight aces by TAMUK extended the lead to 17-12 before Briley Cole lessened the margin to 19-16 on a kill. An ace by Akins closed the gap to 21-19, but the Javelinas sealed the set with four straight points.
 
The Pioneers took leads at 9-5 and 11-7 in set four before TAMUK tied the frame at 11-all. Consecutive kills by Oxford handed TWU a two-point advantage and the teams remained close until TAMUK broke an 18-18 tie by rattling off the final seven points of the afternoon for the match victory.
 
The Pioneers travel to Midwestern State Tuesday for a 6 p.m. match.