STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Nov. 16, 2017) - Miri Shade posted a career-high 24 kills along with 13 digs for her 10^th double-double on the season, Katy Ranes tossed out a career-best 60 assists, and Briley Cole-Lewis tallied 20 kills in a 3-1 win (25-22, 25-23, 24-26, 25-19) over No. 25 Angelo State Thursday afternoon inside Wisdom Gym during the quarterfinals of the Lone Star Conference Tournament to propel the Pioneers into the semifinals tomorrow at 5 p.m. against second-seeded Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
Sixth-seeded TWU (14-17, 10-10 LSC) hit .296 during the contest compared to .238 by third-seeded ASU (21-9, 13-7 LSC). The Pioneers registered 69 total kills, while the Belles recorded 55.
 
The Pioneers never trailed in set one and built a 15-8 lead following back-to-back kills by Cole-Lewis. The Belles knotted the score at 19-all before a kill by Shade, and Cole-Lewis broke another tie at 20-20 with a kill and did the same at 21-21. Courtney Noel gathered two blocks, one alongside Cole-Lewis and another next to Makayla Mayfield, for set-point before Cole-Lewis ended the set with another kill.
 
ASU was able to grab their first lead of the afternoon in set two and built a 9-5 advantage. The Pioneers pulled to within 15-14 thanks in part to a kill and ace by Shade, and a Mayfield ace and kill from Ranes handed TWU the lead at 19-18. An ace by Ranes put the Pioneers up, 23-22, and Shade ended the set on a kill.
 
In set three, TWU built an 8-3 edge on kills from Cole-Lewis and Courtney Noel, but six straight points flipped the lead over to the Belles at 9-8. ASU grew their advantage to 21-17, but the Pioneers came back to tie the score at 23-23. The teams went back-and-forth for the final points before the Belles threw down two straight kills to stay alive in the match.
 
TWU fell behind 12-9 in the fourth set, but kills by Shade, Mayfield and Caroline Noel helped put the Pioneers back in front at 14-12. At 17-17, a kill by Shade and a pair of aces from Courtney Noel handed TWU a three-point lead. The Belles closed within two at 20-18, but the Pioneers finished with a Cole-Lewis kill and an LSC Tournament victory.
 
Head Coach Jeff Huebner said, "A great win for our group. Obviously we had top-end play from Katy, Miri and Briley. What doesn't come through is the toughness we played with and how our bench came in with timely points to add to or gain a lead. We have a special group are looking forward to the semifinal tomorrow."
 
The Pioneers will face two-seed Texas A&M-Commerce Friday at 5 p.m. during the semifinals of the LSC Tournament for a chance to play in the championship match Saturday at 3 p.m.