Volleyball | 8/27/2022 9:29:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 JACKSON, Tenn. (August 27, 2022) – In the second day of the Union Volleyball Classic, the Texas Woman's volleyball team lost a pair of matches.
 
TWU (1-3) lost their first match of the day to the host Union University (3-0) in three sets. While they bounced back with energy in the second match of the day at 5:30 p.m. against The University of Arkansas at Monticello (2-2), the Pioneers fell in five sets.
 
In the first match, the Pioneers closely battled in the first two sets. In set one, TWU lost by just five points, while in set two, the Pioneers only lost by two points. Nevertheless, the Pioneers could not string together strong attacks in the third set, losing 25-16.
 
Against Union, the Pioneers won the block battle, 4-3. Trixie Oche led TWU with three blocks in the match.
 
Finishing the match with 32 total kills, just six behind Union, TWU was led in the attack by Sarah Lindley and Tori Woods, who both finished with eight kills.
 
Lizzy Reed led in the assist statistic for the Pioneers, finishing the match with 17. In digs, Abbie Sprague led all players with 13.
 
"Our first match today was played at a very high level between the serve and pass side," TWU Head Coach Jeff Huebner said. "We struggled with our first touch, which made it difficult to build momentum. Sets 1 and 2 were where did a good job overcoming some of those challenges. Sarah and Lizzy had a very good match for us and made some big timely plays."
 
After losing the match to Union, TWU had a break before playing UAM at 5:30 p.m.
 
In the first set against UAM, the Pioneers and the Blossoms traded points throughout. Late in the set, the Pioneers took a two-point lead, 23-21, off a kill by Lindley, but UAM answered the Lindley kill with a four-point unanswered run to close the set, 25-23.
 
After dropping the opening set, TWU struggled to find their rhythm in set two. The Pioneers longest scoring streak was two. Cara Pool led the Pioneers in the set with three kills, but TWU lost the second set 25-14.
 
The comeback story began to come alive in set three, as TWU changed the tide. The Pioneers went on their longest scoring streak of the match, recording seven straight points to take a decisive 21-14 lead.
 
While UAM tried to battle back from their deficit, TWU's dominating net presence caused the Blossoms to make six attack errors in the match. UAM tried to make a late set push, but TWU maintained their composure, closing the set with a barrage of three points.
 
The deciding point in set three came from a lightning kill from the middle by Kiya Yeoman, who was assisted by Lizzy Reed. The Pioneers won set three 25-19.
 
Needing to win set four, TWU stayed locked in and carried over the intensity of the previous set, matcing UAM's scoring runs and answering quickly when trailing. 
 
With the two-point lead, 22-20, the Pioneers went on a three-point run to close the set and force a deciding set five. Lizzy Reed kicked off the scoring in the final run for TWU. Oche added a kill, and UAM helped the Pioneers close the set with a timely attack error.
 
In the final set of the weekend for the Pioneers at the Union Volleyball Classic, the inconsistent scoring of the second set returned to plaque the Pioneers.
 
TWU scored the first two points of the set, which was their lone lead of the final set. The Pioneers hit a small run in the middle of the set, with back-to-back kills by Lindley; however, TWU could not overcome their early set deficit, falling 15-10.
 
As a team, the Pioneers finished the match hitting .279 with 66 kills.
 
Lindley recorded a career high 17 kills in the match, while Woods added nine and Luna van Baars contributed a career high eight kills.
 
Along with her nine kills, Woods added three aces and 11 digs.
 
Yanley Pabon led the Pioneers in digs with 17, and Lizzy Reed recorded a career high 40 assists.
 
"Our matches today were tough," Huebner said. "I see the opportunities for growth in our program and continued to watch our toughness and grit improve throughout the second match. Luna played terrific off the bench in the third, fourth and fifth sets, and Sarah continues to play at a super high level. We are looking forward to our fans in KMA and playing at home next weekend."

Following the conclusion of the tournament, Tori Woods was named to the All-Tournament team. In 14 sets played, Woods finished with 31 kills, two assists, 12 aces, 52 digs and 43.5 points. 

"I'm proud of Tori," Huebner said. "She had a great first weekend as a Pioneer. Her consistency in all phases of the game puts us in a position for success. Congratulations to her and her teammates on the award."
 
As Coach Huebner said, the Pioneers return home to Kitty Magee Arena next Friday, Sept 2 and Saturday, Sept. 3, as the host the Denton Volleyfest. The Pioneers will play both Friday and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.