DENTON, Texas (Oct. 18, 2024) – The Texas Woman's volleyball team continued their winning streak on Friday night, defeating St. Mary's 3-1.

TWU (12-5, 5-2) fell in the first set, before rallying back and winning three in a row to defeat StMU (12-6, 4-3).

Prior to the match, the Pioneers were knotted in fifth place with the Rattlers in the Lone Star Conference standings. After tonight's round of LSC matches, TWU currently is tied for fifth with Dallas Baptist.

Atop the LSC standings are West Texas A&M and UT Tyler, who both remain undefeated, 7-0, in conference action.

The Pioneers started off the night by honoring those who have been effected by Breast Cancer and wore pink for thier annual Dig Pink night, as they played with a bigger purpose tonight. 

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Four Pioneers ended the night with double-digit kills. Cara Pool led the way with a season high 14 kills on the night. Malia Viernes added 13 in the win. Myracle Stockman and Tori Woods both finished the night with 10 kills.
• Pool topped the leader board for TWU with a .393 hitting percentage.
• Four Pioneers also finished the match with double-doubles. Viernes added 11 digs to her 13 kills for her sixth double-double of the season. Woods finished with 13 digs and 10 kills to record her ninth double-double. Grace Reynolds closed the night with 23 assists and 18 digs, as she leads TWU with 10 double-doubles on the season. Finally, Kiana Reed added 20 assists and 10 digs in the win.
• To her season high kills, Pool also added a season high four digs and 17 total points.
• Kenn Jean-Louis led the Pioneers in blocks with five block assists on the night – a career high for the sophomore.
• Stockman closed the match with a season high four block assists.
• The 18 digs from Reynolds matched her career high in digs. Luna França also finished the night with 18 digs.
• Woods led TWU with two service aces.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• The Pioneers displayed another strong defensive performance, as they hold the Rattlers to their second lowest hitting percentage of the season, .161. TWU hit .241 on the night.
• TWU won the aces and blocks battles. The Pioneers closed the match with four aces and nine blocks, while StMU had three aces and five blocks.
• The Rattlers recorded more kills and total attacks than TWU; however, they committed 27 total errors on the night, while the Pioneers committed 18. TWU took advantage of the mistakes of the Rattlers to capitalize and win the match.
• In the first set, the Pioneers were down 18-13, and TWU mounted a 4-0 run to come within one point, 18-17. In the run by TWU were three attacking errors, one which came off a TWU block by Jean-Louis and Stockman.
• TWU would come within one point once more in the first set, 21-20, after an ace by Woods. Then, the Rattlers closed the set on three straight unanswered points to end the 25-21 in favor of the Rattlers.
• In the second set, despite going back-and-forth, the Pioneers came pushing to find the momentum run. With the score at 21-18, TWU mounted a 3-0 run, which was ignited by a kill by Woods. A kill by Pool brought up set point.
• Then, a service error by StMU ended the set in the Pioneers' favor.
• TWU experienced another great start to set three, as has been the trend over the past several matches. The Pioneers opened set three with a 5-2 run. TWU continued to find long runs throughout the set and really eliminated any long momentum shifting runs.
• Late in the set, the Pioneers has a 22-16 lead. TWU closed the set with four straight points. The 4-0 run was bookended by kills by Stockman to end set three in favor of the Pioneers, 25-16.
• In the fourth and final set, the scoring went back-and-forth. With score trading sides, the Pioneers stayed locked in and composed.
• The Pioneers brought up match point after a kill by Jean-Louis from Reynolds got the crowd on their feet.
• The Rattlers would score two more points; nevertheless, a kill by Veirnes ended StMU's momentum run. The kill by Viernes would end the match for TWU, 25-23.

POST GAME THOUGHTS 

Check out the post-game interview with Cara Pool here.

NEXT UP

The Pioneers will be back in KMA Saturday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. to face St. Edward's.