DENTON, Texas (Sept. 20, 2025) – What a Saturday in KMA!

The Texas Woman's volleyball team defeated Dallas Baptist in five sets on Saturday afternoon in a nonconference match-up with the Lady Patriots.

TWU (7-4) fell behind two sets to none early, before completing the reverse sweep in five sets to claim the victory.

It marks the first win for the Pioneers over the Lady Patriots in Denton since 2018.

Most recently, DBU was receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll, and TWU handed them their second loss of the season and first since Sept. 6. The Pioneers are 1-0 in five set matches, while DBU is 1-2.

In the win, the Pioneers set two new program records. TWU threw a block party in KMA, as they recorded 20 total blocks and 36 block assists – both the most in program history since NCAA reportable statistics.

TWU currently ranks second in the Lone Star Conference in blocks per set, averaging 2.44 per set.

KEY PLAYERS

• Seven Pioneers recorded career highs in the win: Jonaida Donowa – 11 blocks, Kenn Jean-Louis – eight blocks and eight block assists, Kaia Lydia – four blocks and four block assists, Cat Millsap – 15 assists, Myracle Stockman – eight blocks and seven block assists, Miriam Williams – two aces and three block assists and Tori Woods – two block solos.
• Woods led the Pioneers with 19 kills. Stockman added 12, and Donowa rounded out the double-digit kills for TWU with 10. Donowa, on her 10 kills, hit .409.
• Kiana Reed led TWU in assists with 38. She added 10 digs to record her sixth double-double of the season and third straight.
• Millsap and Alyssa Rojo both topped the service leader board for TWU with three aces each.
• Donowa led the block party with 11 total blocks.
• Rojo recorded the most digs for the Pioneers with 24, while Williams added 13.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• The Pioneers held DBU to their lowest hitting percentage of the season at .116. TWU hit .192 across the five sets. TWU finished with eight aces and allowed 11 aces. The Pioneers outblocked the Lady Patriots 20-11.
• In the first set, DBU jumped out to a 19-7 lead after scoring eight straight points. TWU battled back to cut their deficit to five, 21-16, late in the set, following going on a 4-0 run. After the Lady Patriots brought up set point, a kill by Lydia held off DBU momentarily; nevertheless, DBU closed it out on the next play to close set one, 25-18.
• The Pioneers trailed 20-16 in set two. They stayed disciplined and responded to the deficit by scoring five unanswered points to take the lead, 21-20. The run was ignited by a kill from Woods.
• The score would go back-and-forth in set two, as the energy was high in KMA. TWU would bring up set point first, 24-23, after a kill by Woods and a block by Jean-Louis and Williams. After that, DBU would bring up set point, 25-24, but TWU stayed locked in and tied the match, 25-25, with a kill by Williams. The score would be tied two more times, but DBU would close the set with two straight points to go up 2-0 in the match, after the 29-27 set two win.
• TWU never gave up and faced the two set deficit head on, taking it one point and one set at a time. In set three, the Pioneers rocked the Lady Patriots momentum and went on a 9-0 run to lead, 12-3. Then, TWU would mount another long run late, 7-0, in the set to go ahead 21-13. Keeping the momentum the entire set, the Pioneers closed set three with the win, 25-24. A kill by Jean-Louis brought up set point, and an ace by Millsap sealed the win.
• The scoring went back-and-forth in set four. After a quick 3-0 run for the Pioneers, they took a slight advantage, 11-7. The advantage then allowed some breathing room for TWU and kept the energy on the side of the Pioneers. Despite back-and-forth scoring, the Pioneers did a great job of limiting the runs of the Lady Patriots in set four. TWU would complete the set four win with three straight points. A kill from Sydney Garrison brought up set point, 24-18, and a setter dump by Reed confused DBU and secured the tying set win for TWU, 25-18.
• In their first set five of the season, the Pioneers displayed poise to complete the reverse sweep. DBU held the lead, 11-8; nevertheless, TWU kept fighting. A kill by Donowa ignited a 4-0 run to give the Pioneers the lead, 12-11. The lead would trade hands, as DBU brought up set point, 15-14. As had been the motto of the match, the Pioneers did not give up. They answered the Lady Patriots set point by scoring three unanswered points to win the set, 17-15, and win the match. In fitting fashion, TWU closed the match on a block by Jean-Louis and Stockman.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JESSICA RANSOM

"I am so proud of this team's fight and ability to bounce back. It's been a long week with some inconsistencies, but today our focus was discipline, and we found a way to fight through the valleys. We continue to learn and grow each week, and that is our main goal as we head into conference play."

NEXT UP

TWU will open LSC play on Tuesday, Sept. 23 against Texas A&M – Kingsville at 6 p.m. The Pioneers will be celebrating Faculty and Staff Appreciation prior to the match.