JACKSON, Tenn. (August 26, 2022) –Despite traveling 572 miles away from Kitty Magee Arena for their opening weekend, the Texas Woman's volleyball team brought the KMA energy to Jackson, winning their first match of the 2022 season.
 
TWU (1-1) began their season with not just a win, but a three-set sweep of Belmont Abbey College (0-2) at the Union Volleyball Classic. Following their win, the Pioneers had a break before returning to play Mississippi College (2-0) at 5:30 p.m. During their second match of the day, TWU lost in three sets.
 
No signs of jetlag or travel fatigue plagued the Pioneers in the first match, as the energy started off high and remained strong throughout the entire match. From the first serve, TWU had control and was able maintain the focus and drive to complete the sweep.
 
TWU dominated each set, allowing Belmont Abbey to score no more than 15 points in a set.
 
Not only did the Pioneers top the leaderboard in points, but they also won individual statistical categories as well.
 
TWU finished with a total of 39 kills, 12 aces, four blocks, 35 assists and 33 digs. On 82 total attacks, the Pioneers recorded a .354 hitting percentage in the match.
 
The Pioneers freshmen shone in their career debut. Tori Woods, a freshman PIN, led TWU with eight kills, seven aces and 11 digs. Freshman setter Kiana Reed recorded the team's second highest number of assists with 14.
 
While the freshmen stepped up on the new college stage, TWU's returners showed their strength of experience. Sophomore Cara Pool tied with Woods for the most team kills with eight. Sophomore setter Lizzy Reed led the Pioneers with 17 assists in the match. Redshirt freshman Kaia Saylor added six kills, and Abbie Sprague, also a redshirt freshman, tied her career high with two aces and added six digs.
 
TWU held Belmont Abbey to just a .138 hitting percentage and gave up just 14 points in the first set, 13 in the second and 15 in the third.
 
Head Coach Jeff Huebner said he was most impressed with the intentionality of the decision made on the court, which allowed the Pioneers to succeed in all areas of play.
 
"I'm proud of our team for this start to the season," Huebner said. "Serve receive and setter decisions were very crisp and intentional, which I think gets missed in the box score a little. Serving game in this one put us in a good position throughout the match to be successful and Abbie, Tori and Kaia cleaned up on the defensive side."
 
Following the season opening win, the Pioneers struggled to find their rhythm against Mississippi College in their second match of the day.
 
TWU dropped the first set 25-15 but quickly bounced back with a fervor in set two, taking Mississippi College to the brink.
 
The two teams traded points for a majority of the set. Late in the set, the Pioneers tied the game 23-23 off a kill by Woods; however, TWU could not fend off the last two consecutive points by Mississippi College and dropped the second set 25-23.
 
Mississippi College jumped out to an early lead in the third set. Then, the Pioneers responded, going on a four-point run to get within one point, 12-11.
 
TWU took their lone lead of the final set, 15-14, off a Mississippi College attack error. The Pioneers would not lead again, dropping the final set 25-17.
 
Saylor led the Pioneers with eight kills. Pool, Woods and Lizzy Reed all contributed one ace each. Trixie Oche added two blocks, and Lizzy Reed recorded 12 assists. Woods also finished with a career high 22 digs in the match.
 
"Match two today showed us some places where we can execute better," Huebner said. "Our team played hard, and we learned a lot about where our focused improvements can yield good results and expand how we live the standard."
 
The Pioneers return to action at the Union Volleyball Classic tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 27. TWU will play two matches: 1 p.m. against the host Union and 5:30 p.m. against Arkansas-Monticello. Both matches will be livestreamed at https://uuathletics.com/watch/?Live=774&type=Live.