DENTON, Texas - Isabel Vega Calderon turned in a career-high 19 kills, hitting .300 and adding seven digs as the Texas Woman's University volleyball team (7-9, 3-3 Lone Star Conference) held off Midwestern State (3-11, 1-5), winning 3-2 on Saturday afternoon inside Kitty Magee Arena. 

"The story behind the weekend is a pre-walkthrough players' meeting that Isabel had with the team on Friday," said head coach Jeff Huebner. "She talked with our group about attacking life with no fear, and loving challenge. This set the foundation for the toughness and gratitude for good volleyball we displayed today. Our mid-rally connectedness is markedly improved. We had incredibly important play from substitutes and starters alike. The consistency of the team allowed our coaching staff to make subtle adjustments even for 1 or 2 points where players stepped up and executed. Also, TWU Student Life's Family Weekend made for another electric night in the Arena. We are thankful for loud supportive crowds every night!"
 
The Pioneers took the opening set 25-21, before Midwestern rallied to take 25-16 and 26-24 decisions in sets two and three. However, the Pioneers knotted the match with a 27-25 thriller in set four and closed out the match with an 15-11 win in the fifth set. 

The two teams battled through the opening set, fighting to a 10-10 tie. The Mustangs took the next to points to go ahead 12-10, before TWU reeled off nine of the next 11 points to take a 19-14 advantage. Twice the Mustangs cut the TWU lead to one, but the Pioneers kept distance and took the opening set. 

Midwestern slowly created separation in the second set and pulled away, but TWU responded with a flurry in set three, pushing out to a 13-6 lead. The Mustangs rallied to tie the set at 23-23, and after the Pioneers earned set point at 24-23, MSU took three straight to capture the set win and pull ahead 2-1. 

In the fourth set, MSU jumped out to an early 6-2 advantage, but this time the Pioneers rallied, eventually knotting the set at 12-12. From there, there were 10 more ties - the final one coming at 25-25, before Sydney Stroh served the final two points of the set to give TWU a 27-25 win and even the match at two sets apiece. 

The teams dueled through ties to a 7-7 tie, and after TWU claimed a brief 8-7 advantage, MSU took four of the next six to claim an 11-10 advantage. 

Those would be the last points the Mustangs would score, however, as the Pioneers closed the set and match with five consecutive points to claim the victory. 

Trixie Oche and Monica Wood narrowly missed double figure kills, earning nine apiece. Bailey Wozniak dished out 31 assists along with three aces, while Lizzy Reed added 16. Yanely Pabon (28), Clayre Pullin (17) and Stroh (13) all hit double figures in digs. 

The Pioneers take to the road next week, traveling to south Texas for a Friday match at Texas A&M-Kingsville and a Saturday match at Texas A&M International.