DENTON, Texas (Oct. 28, 2017) - Katy Ranes, Kerstin Jenkins, and Caroline Noel each had career matches Saturday at Kitty Magee Arena in a pair of non-conference contests where Texas Woman's University had a two-set advantage over Southwestern Oklahoma State fade in a five-set loss but contended for a win over Arkansas-Monticello to snap a five-game losing streak.
 
Southwestern Oklahoma State 3, Texas Woman's 2
 
Ranes tossed out a career-high 58 assists and collected her sixth double-double on the season by adding 16 digs in the five-set loss (25-15, 25-16, 22-25, 23-25, 12-15) to the Savage Storm (10-17, 5-7 GAC). Jenkins tied her best career outing with 17 kills, and Miri Shade notched her seventh double-double of the year with 13 kills and 11 digs.
 
Tied 9-9 in set one, TWU (11-15, 7-8 LSC) went on an 11-2 run capped by a solo block from Courtney Noel. A kill by Briley Cole-Lewis made it 21-14, and a Jenkins kill and Erin Jones service ace increased the lead to 23-14 before a Jenkins kill sealed the win.
 
A kill by Shade broke a 7-7 tie in set two before a block by Cole-Lewis and Courtney Noel produced a 14-9 advantage. A kill by Caroline Noel and a pair of aces by Ranes put the Pioneers ahead, 21-14, and TWU was able to close out the set on a kill by Cole-Lewis.
 
Shade opened the third set with a kill and then met Caroline Noel for a block and a 2-0 Pioneer edge, but TWU was unable to regain the lead again in the set allowing the Savage Storm to cut the match deficit to 2-1.
 
An ace by Jones in set four gave the Pioneers a 7-5 lead, but Southeastern came back to tie things up a 14-all. The Savage Storm pulled ahead at 23-19 and fended off the Pioneers late to force a fifth set.
 
Southeastern quickly took a 3-0 lead in the final set, but TWU was able to knot the score at 4-4. The Savage Storm jumped out in front at 10-7 and held match-point at 14-10, but a Southeastern attack error and Jenkins kill sliced the margin to 14-12. A final kill by the Savage Storm handed TWU its fifth consecutive loss.
 
Texas Woman's 3, Arkansas-Monticello 1
 
Mayfield posted her seventh double-double of 2017 with a career-high 20 digs and a season-best 25 digs in a four-set win (25-22, 25-16, 23-25, 29-27) over Arkansas-Monticello (10-17, 2-10 GAC), and Caroline Noel tallied a career-best 14 kills.
 
The Pioneers turned a 14-14 tied into a 22-16 lead in set one. A kill by Jenkins had TWU up 23-19, but two Pioneer errors and a Blossom kill had UAM within 23-22. The Blossoms served up an error for set-point and failed on an attack for a 1-0 TWU match lead.
 
An ace by Jenkins gave TWU a 10-4 lead in set two, and Caroline Noel and Cole-Lewis went on a tear to combine for five kills and a block for a 22-12 lead. Back-to-back kills by Courtney Noel and Ranes gave the Pioneers another set victory.
 
In set three, TWU grew an 8-8 tie into a 19-12 lead before UAM began a comeback. Seven straight Blossom points tied things up at 20-all. A kill by Mayfield forced a tie at 22-22, but the Blossoms were able to finish off the Pioneers for a set win.
 
Kills by Cole-Lewis and Mayfield tied set four at 22-22, and TWU forced match-point at 24-23 following a block by the same duo. A Pioneer attack error gave UAM an opportunity for the set win at 26-25, and the Blossoms again had an opportunity at 27-26 on a kill. A Jenkins kill again had TWU in position to finish off the match before Cole-Lewis found an opening on the floor for the Pioneer win.
 
Head Coach Jeff Huebner said, "I am proud of our players for playing a tough doubleheader. We showed good poise and effort. Kerstin Jenkins had a good day with attacking in the first match and digging in the second. Our middles carried a huge load for us and really put some pressure on our opponents."
 
The Pioneers host Midwestern State Tuesday on Halloween Night. The evening will include a costume contest, prizes and candy being handed out by TWU student-athletes. Admission will be free for those dressed in costume.