DENTON, Texas (Sept. 27, 2025) – For the second straight week, the Texas Woman's Pioneers defeated the Dallas Baptist Lady Patriots.

TWU (8-5, 1-1) claimed their first Lone Star Conference win of the season, defeating DBU in four sets (6-3, 0-1) to hand the Lady Patriots an opening LSC loss.

It marked the first opening LSC play loss for DBU since 2022. Additionally, it marked the first time since 2017 and 2018 season that the Pioneers have defeated the Lady Patriots in back-to-back meetings.

In the win, the Pioneers once again dominated the play at the net. They out-blocked the Lady Patriots 13-6. Jonaida Donowa led the Pioneers in blocks with nine block assists. Donowa currently ranks second in the LSC in blocks per set, averaging 1.21 blocks.

KEY PLAYERS

• Myracle Stockman and Sydney Garrison led the Pioneers with 11 kills each. Stockman also added four blocks. Garrison finished with four blocks and 11 digs, which marked her third double-double of the season. Garrison's three block assists and four total blocks marked career highs.
• Kiana Reed once again led TWU in assists with 27. She added 14 digs to record her eighth double-double of the season and fifth straight. This marks Reed's ninth match overall and fifth straight with 20 or more assists. Cat Millsap added 14 assists and 10 digs to record her first double-double of the season. Her 10 digs also marked a career high. Millsap added two aces in the win.
• Five Pioneers finished with double-digit digs. Tori Woods led with 19 digs. Alyssa Rojo finished with 15. Woods' 19 digs marked a season high.
• Benedite Anuman recorded a career high in her third career start of the season, hitting .667 and recording two block assists.

PIONEER POWER MOMENTS

• Across the match, each set was 25-21 with TWU winning sets one, three and four to win the match. The Pioneers won the most important category – the sets. In the other statistical categories, TWU won blocks and hitting percentage. 
• The Pioneers held the Lady Patriots to hitting just .128 on the season – the Lady Patriots second lowest hitting percentage of the season. Both of DBU's season lows came against TWU.
• On the day, TWU hit .196 with 50 total kills.
• Unlike their first meeting, the Pioneers came out and quickly set the tone, winning set one to take the early lead.
• TWU trailed 14-10 in set one. Then, a setter's dump by Reed ignited a 5-0 run to give TWU the lead, 15-14. DBU would tie it up again at 17 each; however, they then committed three straight attack errors to put TWU ahead 20-17. The Pioneers would maintain the lead for the remainder of the match. A block by Donowa and Garrison would bring up set point, 24-21, and a kill by Woods would end the set for TWU, 25-21.
• The Pioneers opened set two with two straight points, 2-0. After that slight lead, the Pioneers would not lead again in set two until 13-12. TWU did a great job on Saturday of staying consistent and finding strong momentum in the middle of the set to turn the tides.
• Following their 13-12 advantage, DBU would go on a 9-2 run to lead 21-15. TWU would score five more points in the second set, but they were unable to overcome the deficit, as they fell in set two, 25-21.
• In set three, TWU quickly grabbed the 1-0 lead with a block by Donowa and Stockman. The Pioneers would continue to ride their early momentum and hold the lead throughout much of the early part of the set. TWU would tie up 9-9, and the score would be tied three more times. After 12-12, TWU would catch fire and score eight unanswered points to take a commanding, 19-12 lead. A kill by Garrison ignited the run for the Pioneers.
• After an attack error by DBU brought up 23-17, DBU would go on a slight run with four straight points, 23-21. Nevertheless, the Pioneers regrouped and ended the set with two straight blocks – one by Donowa and Garrison and the final one by Donowa and Stockman. TWU claimed the set three win, 25-21, and took a 2-1 match advantage.
• Set four started off back-and-forth as the Pioneers looked to close the match. TWU put their foot on the gas and went on a strong 8-1 run to lead 15-9. A kill by Stockman ignited the run, which included two kills by Stockman and two by Anuman.
• TWU would never trail in the fourth set. A service error by the Patriots would set up match point for TWU, and then another service error by DBU gave TWU the win, 25-21.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JESSICA RANSOM

"Today was a huge bounce back win for us. We ironed some things out and felt more consistent and in control of earning our points today. It is hard to beat a good team back-to-back like that, so I am proud of the team's focus. We are excited to see our schedule calm down a little and get back into a routine each week as we continue in conference play."

NEXT UP

After a four match home stand, the Pioneers will head on the road for a conference meeting with Eastern New Mexico on Friday, Oct. 3.