Volleyball | 9/17/2021 9:44:00 AM

DENTON, Texas - The Texas Woman's University volleyball team (4-5) is set to open the Lone Star Conference portion of its 2021 schedule this weekend, hosting St. Edward's and St. Mary's on Friday and Saturday inside Kitty Magee Arena. 

Friday's matchup with St. Edward's (5-2) is set to begin at 6 p.m. while Saturday's matchup with St. Mary's (6-1) is set for a 2 p.m. start. 

FOLLOW IT LIVE

• Live video and statistics are available at www.twuathletics.com. Video is streamed through the Lone Star Conference Digital Network, with packages available for as little as $10/day. Tickets are available at www.twuathletics.com/tickets.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

• CLOSING THE HOMESTAND - This weekend's matches wrap up a seven-match homestand and mark the final home contests for TWU in the month of September. The Pioneers will not return to the friendly confines of Kitty Magee Arena until the weekend of Oct. 1-2.
• SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS - St. Edward's has spent the entirety of its season on the road, playing in the West Texas A&M Tournament in Amarillo and the Dakota's Patriot Classic in Tyler. EDU swept through the WTAMU tournament, topping UTPB, Adams State, Fort Lewis, and Southwestern Oklahoma, dropping sets only to UTPB and Adams State, before going 1-2 last weekend in Tyler, falling 3-0 to No. 12 Oklahoma Baptist to open play before sweeping past Southeastern Oklahoma, and then dropping a five-setter to Harding. The trio of Kaitlyn Krafka, Caroline Swan, and Lourdes Gomez all average over three kills per set, with Emily Tran setting the offense to the tune of 11.16 assists per set. Sarah Konovodoff has anchored the back line, averaging 4.16 digs per set and Maya Smalls has been the Hilltoppers' leading blocker, averaging 0.88 per set. 
• SCOUTING THE RATTLERS - The Rattlers opened the season with six consecutive wins at the Oklahoma Christian Tournament and the Gorilla Classic, winning hard-fought battles against Lubbock Christian (3-1), Bentley (3-1), and Oklahoma Christian (3-2) in the opening weekend before picking up wins over Truman (3-2), Northwestern Oklahoma (3-1), and Sioux Falls (3-1) last weekend in Pittsburg. Host Pittsburg State stopped the Rattlers' win streak with a 3-0 victory in the finale of the event. Coached by former TWU assistant Laura Ulrich, the Rattlers are led offensively by the duo of Alissa Tolbert and Alicia Virthe, who average over 3 kills per set; while the duo of Aislan Lennon (5.67 assists per set) and Cali Nims (4.24 assists per set) split setting duties. Defensively, Gabi Sandoval has anchored the back line averaging 4.30 digs per set, while Meghan Stiefer averages a team-best 1.06 blocks per set.