WICHITA FALLS, Texas (Nov. 2, 2016) – Texas Woman's University notched their second Lone Star Conference sweep of the season Tuesday evening with a 3-0 win over Midwestern State inside D.L. Ligon Coliseum to keep playoff hopes alive for the Pioneers.
 
Sara Oxford totaled a game-high 12 kills, Haley Collins added seven and Anna McGee also had seven in her first action on the court since Oct. 8. Katy Ranes handed out 27 assists and Courtney Noel tallied four blocks, both game-bests.
 
The win over the Mustangs (11-17, 5-11 LSC) was an important one for TWU (8-17, 4-12 LSC) as it closed the win differential to one game between the two squads in the league standings. The top eight teams advance to the conference tournament, and as of tonight, MSU sits at 5-11, TWU is at 4-12 and UTPB stands at 3-12 for the final spot.
 
The Pioneers opened set one with a 6-3 advantage following a kill by Oxford and two MSU attack errors. A service ace by Collins put TWU up 13-9, and a kill on a slide by Noel pushed the score to 15-10. Leading 15-11, the Pioneers scored the next four points to increase the lead to 19-11. MSU was unable to creep much closer before TWU finished off the set.
 
A kill by Oxford and block by Noel alongside Ranes handed the Pioneers a 2-0 set two advantage. Kills by Noel and Collins preceded an ace by Jade Akins to push TWU ahead at 7-3. The Mustangs pulled to within 8-7 on a Pioneer attack error, and an MSU ace tied the set at 9-9. The teams combined for six straight errors until McGee came through with a kill from the outside for a 17-12 TWU lead. Collins sent a tip over the Mustang blockers to put the Pioneers up 21-15, and a trio of kills by Collins, McGee and Noel completed the frame.
 
TWU struck first again in the third set and jumped out to a 6-2 lead. A block by Oxford and Briley Cole increased the gap to 10-5 before MSU closed to within 14-12 after registering a kill, block and ace. A kill by Oxford down the middle upped the lead to 22-17, but three Pioneer attack errors pulled the Mustangs to within 23-22. McGee placed TWU at match point with a kill, but an MSU kill kept the home team alive until McGee found an open space on the Mustang side of the floor to place a tip for the Pioneer win.
 
The Pioneers return home for matches against Eastern New Mexico Friday at 7 p.m. and Western New Mexico Saturday at 2 p.m. where three Pioneers will be honored at Senior Day.