TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 7, 2024) – On day two of the 2024 Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Volleyball Classic, the Texas Woman's volleyball team split the day.

TWU (1-2) took an early two set lead in their first match against Hillsdale (2-0), but they fell in four sets to the Chargers.

Then, in their second game of the day, the Pioneers claimed their first win of the 2024 season, defeating New Haven (0-3) in four sets.

The Pioneers close their first away trip of the season 1-2 in Tampa, Fla.

IMPACT PLAYERS
GAME ONE VS. HILLSDALE

• Tori Woods hit a career high 26 kills and recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 digs. Woods hit .333 on the night.
• Erin Jones recorded her second straight game with 10 or more kills, finishing with 10 against the Chargers.
• Grace Reynolds finished with a season high 23 assists and a season high five aces. She also recorded her first double-double of the season, adding 10 digs.
• Kiana Reed added 17 assists.

GAME TWO VS. NEW HAVEN

• Reed led the Pioneers in assists with a season high 23. She also added nine digs in the win.
• Reynolds recorded her third straight match with 20 or more assists, finishing the win with 20 assists. She also had nine digs.
• Three Pioneers ended with double-digit kills. Malia Viernes led with 14 kills, and Jones and Woods both added 10 kills in the win. Viernes hit .407 and closed the match with back-to-back kills to claim the win for the Pioneers.
• Luna França recorded a career high 33 digs in the win. Marina Obradovic also finished with a career high, adding 14 digs in the win. Woods also finished with her third straight double-double, adding 12 digs.

KEY MOMENTS
GAME ONE VS. HILLSDALE

• The Pioneers recorded a season high nine aces in the match, but they also committed nine service errors.
• TWU hit .169 on the match, and Hillsdale hit .226.
• The Pioneers started off strong, winning the first two sets. Then, the third set turned the tide, as they dropped the last three sets to the Chargers.
• In the third set, TWU mounted a 3-0 run on three kills by Woods to bring the score within 1, 21-20. After trading points with Hillsdale, they came within one again off another kill by Woods, 23-22, but TWU was unable to mount a comeback, as Hillsdale scored the final two points of the set off a kill and TWU attack error.
• The score was tied nine times in the fourth set. TWU held a two-point advantage after a 4-0 run, 12-10, but were unable to claim the set four win. TWU narrowly held off the set win for the Chargers, after an exciting block by Viernes and Kady Hansen, 22-24. However, a service error by Reed ended the set, 25-22 and set the match into the fifth set.
• In the fifth set, Hillsdale claimed the momentum early. TWU would go on a late 3-0 run to bring the score within four, 13-9. Nevertheless, the Pioneers only scored one more point and fell to the Chargers in set five, 15-10.

GAME TWO VS. NEW HAVEN

• The Pioneers had 56 kills to New Haven's 32. TWU had four aces in the match to the Chargers' 11 aces.
• TWU held New Haven to hitting just .039 on the match, while the Pioneers hit .199 across the four sets.
• In the first set, TWU fell behind by as much as five, 15-10, but a 7-0 run righted the tide and gave the Pioneers the two point lead, 18-16. A kill by Cara Pool set up the run.
• With the score tied 19-19, TWU mounted a 4-0 run, which included two kills by Woods and an ace from Reed, which gave TWU the decisive late lead, 23-19. A kill by Hansen set up set point, and Viernes put the exclamation point on the set one win.
• In set two, TWU took a six point lead, 16-10.
• Woods stopped a late 2-0 run by the Chargers with a kill to increase TWU's lead, 17-12.
• After the Chargers came within one, 20-19, three straight kills by Viernes set up a 23-19 advantage. After a ball handling error by the Chargers, Woods called set with a monster kill, 25-21.
• In set three, after a kill by Mryacle Stockman, TWU led 17-13; however, a 5-0 run gave New Haven the one point lead, 18-17.
• A kill by Hansen would once again tie the score, 20-20. However, four unanswered points by New Haven would set up set point for the Chargers. A kill by Viernes held the Chargers off momentarily, but New Haven closed out set three with the win, 25-22.
• In set four, after trailing 4-9, TWU capitalized on a kill by Stockman, an ace by Woods and two errors by New Haven to come within one 9-8.
• A kill by Viernes would give TWU the lead in set four, 11-10.
• TWU capitalized on eight New Haven attack errors in the set four win.
• Two strong kills by Viernes ended the game for TWU, giving them their first win of 2024.

 
FROM HEAD COACH JESSICA RANSOM

"I'm proud of the girls as they fought hard all weekend," Ransom said. "We are excited to get back in the gym and prepare for our home matches this week."

NEXT UP 

TWU returns home next weekend to host the 2024 Denton Volleyfest. TWU will play their home opener in the first match of the Denton Volleyfest on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. against Colorado Christian.