Volleyball | 9/4/2025 11:42:00 AM

DENTON, Texas (Sept. 4, 2025) – Accountability. Communication. Effort.

On the volleyball court, an ace is a serve that results directly in a point for the serving team because the receiving team cannot return it legally. An ace can change the momentum. It can set the tone. It causes celebration.

For the 2025 Texas Woman's volleyball team, ace takes on a deeper meaning this season. With six returners and 11 new players on the roster, the Pioneers chose ACE as their motto, their slogan, their driving mantra for the 2025 season.

Senior Tori Woods said ACE and what it stands for sets the foundation of everything they want to be about this season.

"To me accountability, communication and effort are the root for any successful team. Being able to hold each other to a high standard, communicate effectively and give maximum effort every day allows us all to compete at the highest level."

After a return to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament last season (for the first time since 2015), competing at the highest level every match remains the goal for the Pioneers.

"My mindset going into this season is to compete with passion," senior Kiana Reed said. "I want to challenge not only myself but also my teammates to give this season everything we have, but also to remember to enjoy these moments and soak them all in."

"We had a successful and historical season last year, but that is now the foundation of TWU Volleyball, and we want to grow even more in both skills on the court and continuing to build our team culture

The Pioneers start their season in California with four matches hosted by Azusa Pacific and the Concordia University Irvine.

"I am overjoyed to be starting our season in California," senior Myracle Stockman said. "I love California, but also I just think it'll be great bonding time for us as such a new team and a wonderful opportunity to see what we're made of headed into season in as tough a conference as the Lone Star Conference."

The Pioneers will open the season with 11 non-conference matches, including three against LSC opponents. Last year, TWU recorded their best record in LSC play since 2015 at 12-4. They closed 2024 ranked fourth in the conference. Then, to start the 2025 season, they were picked to finish fifth.

Woods said building a team connection throughout the offseason was crucial and will guide the Pioneers to success across their competitive schedule.

"This offseason was crucial for us as we have a very new team. We spent a lot of time building connections on and off the court and finding our identity as a team. I am excited for this new era of TWU Volleyball, and I know we are heading in the right direction."

Reed echoed Woods' sentiment and said the sense of community the Pioneers built will make them resilient and able to push toward their goals.

"This past offseason, we not only worked on building our skills on the court but also on creating a new sense of community within our team. From fall to spring, we went through lots of changes within the team and ended up gaining some new players. We worked through team-building exercises and learned more about each other not only as teammates but also as individuals."

While the Pioneers have set goals on the court, their motto – ACE – continues to remind them of the sisterhood they are surrounded by and the fearless joy they can bring to the court every day, because pressure recedes when they remember they are playing the sport they love with people they love.

"I love volleyball, because it has brought so many valuable people into my life, as well as knocked me down and built me up in such a beautiful way," Stockman said. "Through all the tough times, I have learned so much about perseverance, overcoming and growing. It has shaped me and will continue to help me grow into the woman I want to be."

Along with their joy for each other and their sport, the Pioneers also take pride in representing a university and program which holds a special place in their hearts.

"I love being a part of TWU as a university, as it has helped me to become the person I am today," Reed said. "I have had the best of both worlds for the past three years as a student-athlete—getting to play the sport I love in a competitive conference and getting a highly esteemed degree."

"I love being a TWU Pioneer, because being a Pioneer comes with a mountain of support in all that you do, and it's very comforting to know that so many people have your back and believe in you," Stockman said.

With the elements of ACE echoing in their minds and with the plan to get some aces on the court, the Pioneers open the 2025 season with their first match on Sept. 5.