DENTON, Texas (Sept. 12, 2024) – Dubs in Denton is how the Texas Woman's volleyball team celebrated their home opener on Thursday night in Kitty Magee Arena.

TWU (2-2) defeated Colorado Christian (2-3) in their home opener and first match of the Denton Volleyfest.

After winning the opening two sets, the Pioneers fell in the next two and closed the match out in the decisive fifth set, 17-15.

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Three Pioneers finished with double digit kills: Cara Pool (11), Malia Viernes (15) and Erin Jones (17).
• With her 17 kills, Jones recorded a new career high. Additionally, Viernes also finished with a career high double-double on the night – with 15 kills and 14 digs.
• Luna França led the Pioneers in digs with 27, marking her second straight match with 25 of more digs.
• Along with França and Viernes, Tori Woods (12), Grace Reynolds (11) and Kiana Reed (10) all recorded double-digit kills.
• Reynolds topped the Pioneer leaderboard in assists, finishing the match with 32 – just one off her career high. This marked her fourth straight match with 20 or more assists.
• Reed also added double-digit assists with 22, which was her second straight match with 20 or more assists.
• Cara Pool led the Pioneers in hitting. With 11 kills and just one error, she .400 on the night.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• The Pioneers started out set one on fire, mounting an early 7-0 advantage.
• TWU maintained control throughout the first set. Late in the set, TWU went on another run, 4-0, ignited by a kill by Viernes to raise the Pioneers' advantage to 19-11.
• TWU would maintain their momentum from the opening minutes throughout the entire set. A kill by Viernes and an attack error from the Cougars ended set one in the Pioneers' favor.
• Similar to set one, the Pioneers opened set two with a run. CCU scored the first two points. Then, TWU responded and score five unanswered points, which included two kills from Jones.
• After the long run to open the set, the score went back-and-forth. Three straight kills by the Pioneers would extend their lead late, 18-12.
• After that run, TWU would not score more than two points in succession; nevertheless, they maintained poise and closed set two out with the win. A kill by Myracle Stockman and an attack error from the Cougars put the Pioneers ahead 2-0 in the match.
• Unlike the first two sets, the Pioneers struggled to find momentum to start three. The scoring traded sides, with CCU leading for much of the start.
• TWU turned the tides with a 5-0 run to take the lead 15-12, but the Cougars ended the set on an 11-5 scoring advantage. Late in the set, they scored four unanswered to win set three.
• The back-and-forth story of scoring remained a consistent plot line in set four. TWU led by as much as five, 14-9, but CCU tied it up at 18 and again at 20 to turn the momentum in their favor.
• After trailing 22-21, TWU scored two unanswered points to take the late lead 23-22, but the Cougars score three straight on TWU errors to win set four and force a decisive set five.
• In set five, the Pioneers trailed 6-5. Then, they caught fire ignited by a kill from Viernes to score four straight points. A kill by Jones put TWU ahead 9-6. The score went back-and-forth, before TWU went on a 3-0 run to tie it up at 12.
• After trading points and being tied at 15, TWU placed the final two exclamation points on the match. A kill by Pool and a monster block Woods and Pool ended the match and sent KMA into an excited uproar.

FROM HEAD COACH JESSICA RANSOM
"It was nice to come out with a win tonight," TWU Head Coach Jessica Ransom said. "We fought every point, and I'm proud of our focus through the end."

NEXT UP
TWU continues their home stand with the Denton Volleyfest tomorrow afternoon. The Pioneers will meet the University of Arkansas Forth Smith at 4:30 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena. For all Denton Volleyfest information, visit the Denton Volleyfest Landing Page.