WICHITA FALLS, Texas (Sept. 29, 2017) - Courtney Noel totaled a team-high 10 kills for Texas Woman's University, but the Pioneers fell in straight sets to Midwestern State Friday night inside D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
TWU (4-9, 2-3 LSC) was outhit .104 to .286 by the Mustangs (8-6, 3-3 LSC) in the three-set loss (25-18, 25-19, 25-19). Miri Shade added seven kills, Katy Ranes registered 33 assists, and Bailey French handled a game-high 14 digs.
 
The Pioneers fell behind 4-1 early in the first set before kills by Shade and Kerstin Jenkins helped pull the team to within 5-4. The Mustangs grew the lead to 17-10 following a TWU attack error, and MSU held onto their seven-point advantage for the set win.
 
A kill by Noel in set two handed the Pioneers a 7-6 edge and the Mustangs came back for an 11-11 tie. Seven straight points by MSU gave the home squad an 18-11 lead. A kill by Veronika Webb at set-point kept TWU alive at 24-17 before a Shade ace made it 24-18, but the Mustangs were able to produce the final point.
 
A kill by Makayla Mayfield in the third set put the Pioneers up 9-8 before MSU made the game 10-all. A string of TWU errors contributed to a 7-0 Mustang run for a 17-10 MSU lead. Kills from Shade and Briley Cole-Lewis, an ace by Ranes, and a pair of Mustang errors closed the deficit to 20-17, but MSU was able to close out the set for the match victory.

Head Coach Jeff Huebner said, "Midwestern played a great match. I was impressed with Courtney Noel and Bailey French who both did a good job of playing consistent and energetic in a tough environment."
 
The Pioneers travel to Cameron Saturday for a 2 p.m. match.