GOLDEN, Colo. (Sept. 2, 2017) - Texas Woman's University volleyball wrapped up its opening tournament of the season at the 2017 Oredigger Classic with two losses against in-region opponents Colorado Mesa and Regis Saturday at Lockridge Arena.
 
Colorado Mesa 3, Texas Woman's 0
 
The Pioneers struggled offensively against the Mavericks, amassing a .021 hitting percentage compared to .255 by CMU. Courtney Noel produced a team-high seven kills, while Haley Collins registered a game-high four blocks.
 
The Mavericks (2-1) set the tone early with three service aces as the Pioneers fought to catch up throughout set one. A kill by Makayla Mayfield and block by Collins and Miri Shade pulled TWU to within 12-8, but Mesa recorded three straight points to extend the lead to 15-8 and ultimately a nine-point set win.
 
A kill by Briley Cole-Lewis handed TWU its first lead of the match at 4-3, and a Mesa attack error and kill by Miri Shade doubled up the Mavericks at 6-3. A 5-1 run by Mesa flipped the lead at 8-7 before a kill by Noel. The Mavericks again put together a run to jump ahead, 13-8 before three straight TWU attack errors put the lead at 19-6. Mesa had the Pioneers at set point, 24-13, but TWU fought and produced a Noel kill, a block by Collins and Ranes, along with a Ranes kill, but a final Pioneer service error put the Mavericks up, 2-0.
 
A kill by Shade in set three had TWU to within one of Mesa at 9-8, and a Noel kill knotted the game at 12-all. CMU then registered three straight points before a Shade kill kept it a three-point contest at 18-15. A Mesa kill put the Mavericks up, 22-16, until Mayfield and Collins put down a block. A pair of kills and block by Mesa finished off the match.
 
"Mesa is a good program with a lot of weapons and we improved each set. Courtney Noel continues to play well for our team, and I liked the connection between Katy Ranes and both of our middles," stated Head Coach Jeff Huebner.
 
 
Regis 3, Texas Woman's 1
 
TWU raced out to a 5-1 lead before three kills and a service ace by the Rangers tied things up. Kills by Kerstin Jenkins, Cole-Lewis and Noel along with a service ace by Bailey French gave the Pioneers a 9-6 advantage. An attack error by Regis bumped the lead to 12-8, but the Rangers came back to tie the set at 14-14. TWU broke a 17-17 tie on a service ace by Veronika Webb and added another point on a kill by Shade. Regis then came to close the match on an 8-1 run to take the set.
 
After trailing 7-3 in set two, the Pioneers tied up the Rangers at 11-11. Following kills by Ranes, Noel and Mayfield, TWU took its first lead against RU at 15-14. As in set one, the Pioneers again held a 19-17 lead, but five quick Ranger points handed the lead over at 22-19. A kill by Jenkins closed it to a one-point game at 23-22, but Regis endured for a 2-0 match edge.
 
For the third set in a row, the Pioneers found themselves with a 19-17 lead, but this time TWU was able to carry on for their first set victory of the season. Two Regis errors upped the Pioneer lead to 21-17, but the Rangers answered with four points for a 21-21 tie. A kill by Jenkins and an RU attack error moved into set point, and a final kill by Noel sealed the set win.
 
The Rangers opened set four with four consecutive points and grew the lead to 10-5 on a TWU service error. A kill by Mayfield brought the Pioneers to within 12-10 and another by Noel kept the game within two at 15-13. A Regis attack error brought TWU close at 18-17, but five points from the Rangers drove the lead to 23-17 before the final two points collected the match win for Regis.
 
"Our players did a great job of being Pioneer Volleyball focused this match. Veronika Webb did a great job in her first match as a middle. Makayla Mayfield, Bailey French, and Erin Jones all played terrific defense while Courtney Noel and Miri Shade paced the offense," Huebner said.
 
The Pioneers will travel to Lubbock to compete in the Lady Chap Classic Sept. 8-9.