WICHITA FALLS, Texas (Nov. 1, 2025) – Unbeaten at home no more! The Texas Woman's volleyball team rallies back to win set five and hand Midwestern State their first home loss of the season.

TWU (16-8, 9-4) once again flexed their stifling defense to defeat MSU (15-8, 8-6). The Pioneers recorded 18 blocks in the match – their second most blocks in a match this season and ninth with 10 or more blocks. The Pioneers held the Mustangs to hitting just .116 on the night – their lowest hitting percentage of the season.

Currently, in the Lone Star Conference, the Pioneers rank second in lowest opponent hitting percentage, averaging .138 per match. Additionally, they rank first in the LSC in blocks per set with 2.64.

After trailing 2-1 in the match, TWU forced a set five, winning set four, 25-19. Then, in set five, the Pioneers fell behind 6-0, before mounting a 15-3 run to close the set, 15-9, and win the match. It marked the Pioneers fourth fifth-set match of the season and second this week. TWU improved to 2-2 in five-set matches, while MSU dropped to 3-5 in five-set thrillers.

The Pioneers are in fourth in the LSC standings after the win, just behind Angelo State, West Texas A&M and Lubbock Christian (who is in first).

KEY PLAYERS

• Tori Woods led the offensive charge for TWU with a season high 20 kills on .237 hitting. She also added a career high 28 digs. Woods also finished with four block assists, two aces and three assists. With the 20 kills and 28 digs, Woods notched her fifth double-double of the season.
• Myracle Stockman added 14 kills with five block assists and seven digs in the victory.
• Jonaida Donowa had a career night, finishing with a career high 13 kills and just one error. She led the Pioneers net protection with eight block assists.
• Sydney Garrison was the final Pioneer with double-digit kills in the win. She added 12 kills and 18 digs in the win to record her sixth double-double of the season.
• Kiana Reed led the assists category for TWU with 35 total – her third match of the season with 30 or more assists. She also grabbed 13 digs to finish with her 11th double-double of the season. Lorena Gómez also finished with a double-double, 23 assists and a career high 17 digs. It marked her fourth double-double of the season.
• After setting a career-high mark in last night's match, Alyssa Rojo broke her mark and finished tonight with a career high 49 digs.
• Cat Millsap led the Pioneers from the service line with three aces, as she now as 25 total aces on the season. It marked her seventh match and third straight with two or more aces.
• Joining the strong protection at the net, Bryanna Stanford matched her career high with five total blocks in the win.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• After giving up a 4-0 run early in set one to trail, 8-7, back-to-back kills by Woods gave TWU the lead, 9-7. Following that scoring mark, the score would be tied seven times throughout the set. After it was tied 15-15, a kill by Garrison would give TWU the one-point advantage, 16-15. However, the Pioneers relinquished the advantage and gave up seven straight points to the Mustangs to trail, 22-16.
• A block by Blackwood and Benedite Anuman ended the MSU run, 22-17. TWU would not allow long runs late in the set from the Mustangs and would come within two, 24-22, after a kill by Stockman; nevertheless, MSU would close it on the next rally with a kill, 25-22.
• Looking for the equalizer in set two, TWU quickly scored two straight to open the second set off kills by Woods and Garrison. Once again, ties would be the story of the early part of the set, as TWU continually responded to limit the scoring runs of the Mustangs and stifle their offensive attack with the Pioneers strong defense.
• A block by Donowa and Stockman would put TWU back in front, 11-10. TWU would never trail again in the set. A kill from Stanford ignited a 4-0 run to bring TWU ahead by five, 20-15. To close the set, a kill by Garrison brought up set point, and a block by Stockman and Stanford won the set, 25-21.
• With the match tied at one each, the battle continued in set three. Trailing by three late in the set, 19-16, a kill from Woods would start a 6-1 run for TWU and put them ahead 22-20. Then, MSU responded with three straight to reclaim the lead, 23-22. TWU's fight continued to show – a kill from Stockman and a kill from Donowa gave TWU the first set point opportunity, 24-23. MSU answered to tie it up, but another kill from Donowa put the Pioneers back in front, 25-24. The Mustangs scored two more to bring up set point, 26-25. Nevertheless, a Stockman kill would tie up the set, 26-26. Despite the back-and-forth, MSU scored the final two points, 28-26, of the set to go ahead 2-1 in the match.
• In a must-win set four, the Pioneers would trail just once in the set. They lead 15-9, but they gave up an 8-1 run to trail, 17-16. TWU does not quit and this set was no different. They regrouped and found their consistency to regain the lead. A kill by Donowa ignited a much-needed 4-0 run for TWU to put them back in front, 20-17. Then, the Pioneers would close the set on a 5-1 run to force a set five. A kill by Woods would bring the set win, 25-19.
• To start set five, the Pioneers fell behind 6-0. Then, a timeout by Coach Ransom turned the tides and reignited the fire for TWU. The Pioneers would go on a 15-3 run to close set five and win the match. Of the 15 points, five were blocks by TWU, as the tough defense and strong offensive focus led the Pioneers to the win.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JESSICA RANSOM

"In this conference, every match on the road will be a battle. We didn't play exceptionally clean tonight, but our defense stayed sound, and we found a way to win. It was a total team effort."

NEXT UP

The Pioneers return home to Kitty Magee Arena for their final two home matches of the regular season next week. TWU will meet Oklahoma Christian on Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. Then, they will host Cameron on Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. for Senior Day in KMA.