STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Sept. 17, 2016) – Texas Woman's University volleyball was unable to chalk up its first Lone Star Conference victory Saturday against Tarleton State as the Pioneers were defeated in three sets inside Wisdom Gym.
 
TWU (3-7, 0-2 LSC) had trouble offensively in the three-set defeat (14-25, 20-25, 18-25) as the team tallied a season-low 20 kills on the afternoon with Anna McGee collecting a team-best six kills and three blocks while Courtney Noel contributed five kills.
 
The TexAnns (9-1, 2-0 LSC) opened the match with a kill by Lone Star Offensive Player of the Year Hailey Roberts and a pair of service aces, and the Pioneers retaliated the same with a McGee kill and two Sara Oxford aces. TWU fell behind 10-6 but pulled to within 12-11 on a block by McGee and Briley Cole. Five straight points by TSU increased the lead to 17-12, and Noel kept the Pioneers to within five at 19-14 on a kill, but the TexAnns then ran off six straight to take the set.
 
McGee put TWU on the board first in set two with a kill as the Pioneers kept the lead up until 5-4. A four-point swing turned the favor towards the TexAnns, and McGee served up an ace to keep the margin to three points at 13-10. TWU fell behind 17-11 but closed to within 20-17 following a kill by Cole and TSU attack error, but the Pioneers were whistled for a ball handling error and the TexAnns served over an ace to creep ahead 22-18 and were able to close out set two.
 
The squads were tied at 4-4 in set three before TSU delivered four successive kills. Mary Kate Hyde sent an ace to the TexAnns for a 10-8 score, but a 6-2 TSU run extended the lead to six. A kill by McGee trimmed the deficit to 19-15, and the Pioneers had a chance trailing 22-18, but a service error and two attack errors ended TWU's bid.
 
The Pioneers head to Texas A&M-Commerce Tuesday for a 6 p.m. match.