SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 2, 2023) – Two matches played two matches won for Texas Woman's volleyball, as the Pioneers went undefeated on the final day of the Westminster Invitational.
 
TWU (2-2) opened the day with a 3-0 sweep against Purdue Northwest (1-2). Then, the Pioneers defeated Saint Martin's in a five set thriller (2-2) to close the Invitational. After today's two wins, TWU leaves Salt Lake City with a solid start to the 2023 season, going 2-2 overall at the Westminster Invitational. The energy was electric all day for the Pioneers, as they competed for every point.
 
"The tournament was everything we needed it to be, and set us up for success in our tough Lone Star Conference," TWU Head Coach Jeff Huebner said. "We chose to play in the Invitational, because we knew we would play top level Division II teams. All four games this weekend gave us a chance to practice various scenarios— winning in five sets, a sweep, being down and battling back. I am proud of how we responded and how we grew this weekend. I know this weekend set us up for a very successful rest of the season."
 
The Pioneers began the day at 11 a.m. this morning with their first three set sweep of the 2023 season. Against Purdue Northwest (PNW), TWU outscored the Pride 60-35 and held them to hitting just .063 on the day. On the other side, the Pioneers recorded 46 kills, and hit .290 in the match.
 
TWU set the tone early in set one and never took their foot off the gas. In set one, the Pioneers opened the set with a 5-0 run, which included two kills by Tori Woods. Throughout the rest of the set, the Pioneers would lead by three or more points down the stretch. TWU's largest lead came at the 20-13 mark, after the Pioneers had mounted a three point run to push the lead to seven.
 
On their way to the set one win over the next five points, Kady Hansen recorded three kills and Woods connected on two kills to lead the Pioneers.
 
High energy and a focused mindset continued to guide TWU into set two, as the Pioneers started off set two with a 3-0 run. After a small back-and-forth, TWU mounted a 6-0 run to grow their advantage to 11-4.
 
An explosive kill by Eduarda Dutra off an assist by Kiana Reed gave TWU a 12-point lead, 20-8. The Pioneers 4-0 run was then momentarily halted, as the Pride claimed one point, 20-9, but TWU quickly returned to their high flying offense, finding their largest lead of set two at 13 after a PNW attack error, 24-11. The Pioneers then relinquished five straight points before decisively closing set two with a kill from Hansen, 25-16.
 
To open the third set, PNW jumped out to 4-3 lead, but guided by the defense of Woods and Luna França, the Pioneers regained their footing and quickly reclaimed the lead 9-6. Then, Malia Viernes connected on a detonating kill to push the Pioneers to a 10-6 advantage.
 
Viernes lit the fire for TWU. After her kill, the Pioneers combined for a 7-1 run. A kill by Cara Pool and an ace from Kiana Reed book ended the run for TWU, giving the Pioneers a 10-point lead, 18-8.
 
With the advantage, Marina Obradovic subbed in and immediately recorded two kills to keep pushing toward the match win for the Pioneers as the Pioneers led by six, 21-15. Two kills from Hansen and one kill from Woods would end the match for TWU, giving the Pioneers their first sweep of the 2023 season.

Hansen led the offensive attack for the Pioneers with 14 kills and hit .545 in the first match. Woods also recorded double digit kills, finishing the match with 13 and a .367 hitting percentage. Grace Reynolds finished with 27 assists, four service aces and 12 digs. França joined Reynolds as the only other Pioneer with double digit digs, closing the match with 10.
 
After starting off the day with a win, TWU returned to action at 3 p.m. against Saint Martin's and closed the Westminster Invitational with their first five set victory of 2023.
 
In the match against the Saints, Woods hit a career high 22 kills. The Pioneers also dominated at the net, as Hansen recorded a career high seven total blocks and Dutra finished with a career high six total blocks.
 
The career and season highs continued to pour in for the Pioneers. Reynolds closed the match with a career high 33 kills and a career high 15 digs, and França recorded a season high 20 digs.
 
The start of the first set quickly foreshadowed the back-and-forth nature of the entire match. TWU trailed for much of the beginning of set one, as Saint Martin's opened the first set with a 4-1 lead.
 
Then, the Pioneers locked in and went on a run. A kill from Pool off an assist by Reynolds tied the set, 5-5. The Saints then scored three unanswered points, before TWU mounted a 6-0 run, which was comprised of kills by Viernes and Woods, to officially claim the lead, 11-8.
 
After the 6-0 run, TWU would never trail again in the first set, as a Woods kill and attack error by the Saints gave the Pioneers the first set win, 25-18.
 
In the second set, the Pioneers trailed until Obradovic entered the match and quickly recorded a kill off the bench with the assist from França. Then, an ace from Kiana Reed, her fourth of the night, knotted the Pioneers and Saints at 14.
 
Following the tie, SMU went on a five point run to increase their lead to five, 19-14, but the Pioneers never gave up. They responded with a four-point run to cut the deficit to just one point, 20-19. The Pioneers would score three more points in the set to come within two, 24-22, but TWU could not limit the Saints from claiming the set point, as they closed set two with a block, 25-22, and tied the match at one set each.
 
As both teams looked to take the 2-1 set advantage in set three, the Pioneers and the Saints came to the court with exciting energy.
 
A kill by Pool and back-to-back aces by Reynolds gave the Pioneers a 3-2 lead, but the Saints turned the tides and took the lead.
 
The Pioneers reclaimed the lead at 13-12 after a monster block by Kenn Jean-Louis and Reynolds. Then, the duo of Jean-Louis and Reynolds connected for a kill to keep TWU in the lead, 14-13.
 
After the kill, the score went back-and-forth, as the Pioneers and Saints traded points. Late in the set, Lizzy Reed entered the match and took a massive dig off the side of face, which threw the Saints out of rotation and Dutra took advantage of it with a well-placed kill to put the Pioneers up by one, 20-19.
 
The two teams went back-and-forth on the next few points, before the Saints went on 4-0 run and set up a set point situation, 24-21.
 
Nevertheless, TWU revitalized their attack. Two kills from Woods brought the Pioneers within one, 24-23. Then, Lexi Williams ignited the arena with a kill off an assist from Reynolds to knot set three at 24. Despite the momentum swinging in the direction of the Pioneers, the Saints then scored two unanswered points to take set three, 26-24, and take a 3-1 match advantage.
 
In a must win set four for the Pioneers, TWU started the set by establishing a dominating force at the net. Hansen and Dutra combined for two blocks early on, but the Pioneers still trailed. TWU fell to a 14-10 deficit, but the no give up mantra still rang true. Down by four, the Pioneers then went on a 4-0 run to tie the set at 14.
 
TWU found their first lead of the set off another strong block by Hansen and Dutra, 16-15. Nevertheless, the battle continued and the high level competition mounted.
 
Viernes, who had played great all day, gave the Pioneers a 24-23 advantage, but the Saints responded with two straight points to take the 25-24 lead. Three unanswered points from the Pioneers forced a set five – TWU's first set five of the 2023 season.
 
TWU rode the excitement and strong momentum easily in set five. A 6-0 run early in set five gave the Pioneers a 9-2 advantage, which immobilized the Saints. A kill by Woods set up the match point, 14-5. Then, Reynolds set Obradovic and Obradovic hit into the hands of blockers who sent the ball out of bounds, giving the Pioneers their second win of the day and first five set win of 2023.
 
"Everyone stepped up strong this weekend," Heubner said. "This group makes me so excited. I am so proud of how everyone stepped up and excelled their role this weekend. Kady started out so strong in her freshman season. She struggled a little in the first match, and then responded so well. She made great choices and great adjustments this weekend. I thought Tori and Luna were great together and excelled on offense and defense this weekend. Malia had flashy needed plays down the stretch. Clayre and Lexi both entered matches late, during crucial minutes and played strong, and Lizzy stepped up with huge digs and several needed aces. I could on and on for each player. I am just so proud of how each and every player grew this weekend."
 
The Pioneers are back in action next weekend at their home opening tournament, Denton Volleyfest. TWU opens the first day of the tournament at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 7 against Ouachita Baptist in Kitty Magee Arena.