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Athletics update: Volleyball and soccer conquer while softball faces defeat

Volleyball

The TWU Pioneers defeated Texas A&M-Commerce 3-1 in both home games this week.

At Tuesday’s game, Texas A&M-Commerce started the first quarter ahead of TWU with a score of 25-19, but the Pioneers came back to lead the rest of the way, 3-1 securing the win.

Junior middle blocker Monica Wood made a team-high with 11 kills and hit .310 while sophomore setter Bailey Woziak had 34 assists and 8 kills.

The Pioneers and Lions returned to the court on Wednesday concluding their two-game series with the Pioneers winning 3-1. Junior middle blocker Trixie Oche hit a best-match .409 with 10 kills alongside freshman outside hitter Laia Saylor and Wood. Woziak surpassed yesterday’s assists with a match-high of 37 assists.

Head coach Jeff Huebner said the season has looked different with the new Covid-19 safety measures.

“Our team wears masks to practice, lift and travel, gets COVID tested almost weekly, submits to daily screenings, temperature checks, and questionnaires in order to play and practice,” Huebner said.

The Pioneers are supported by the Pioneer Pride Dance and Pioneer Pep band when competing in home games where spectators are not allowed. Huber said when competing in travel matches, sometimes fans, family, and friends are allowed, creating the at-home feel.

Soccer

The Pioneers topped Oklahoma Christian 4-0 on Feb. 24 in Oklahoma City.

After scoring half the goals from Tuesday’s game, senior forward Haley Ward is now TWU’s all-time leading goal scorer. Sophomore goalkeeper Bailey Heffernon saved two potential goals from Oklahoma Christian.

Ward scored the first goal in the first half of the game. The Pioneers held the 1-0 advantage until junior forward Keely Chapman upped the score to 2-0. Junior defender Maddy Harper scored the final goal for TWU in the 69th minute making the score 4-0.

“Great overall team performance today,” head coach Babak Abouzar said in a press release. “Credit to OC for making things difficult for us, especially in the first half. Our team really applied the things we discussed at halftime, and it showed in the opening minutes of the second half. Our freshmen played a big role in this win which was great to see. We will enjoy this victory and start game-planning for another quality opponent in UT Tyler.”

The Pioneers return to the field on Saturday, March 6 at 6 p.m. hosting Dallas Baptist University in Pioneer Soccer Park.

Softball

The TWU Pioneers lost to both Our Lady of the Lake University Saints 5-2 on Friday and Rogers State 8-1 on Saturday in Tyler.

On Friday, freshman left field Alexys Ginegaw scored the first point during the bottom of the second inning giving the Pioneers a 1-0 advantage. OLLU responded by adding three points in the third inning, but senior Tara Soloman hit a run making the score 3-2. In the opening of the fourth inning, OLLU added another two runs and held the upper hand until the end 5-2. The concluding game for the two teams on Feb. 27 was canceled due to the weather.

Senior catcher Taylor Goulet scored a grounder run batted in during the second inning however, the Roger State Hillcats swept the fourth inning putting four points on the board and two points in the sixth inning.

The Pioneers return to action Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. against Augustana and 2:30 p.m. facing St. Mary’s in Tyler.

The TWU Pioneers defeated Texas A&M-Commerce 3-1 in both home games this week.

At Tuesday’s game, Texas A&M-Commerce started the first quarter ahead of TWU with a score of 25-19, but the Pioneers came back to lead the rest of the way, 3-1 securing the win.

Junior middle blocker Monica Wood made a team-high with 11 kills and hit .310 while sophomore setter Bailey Woziak had 34 assists and 8 kills.

The Pioneers and Lions returned to the court on Wednesday concluding their two-game series with the Pioneers winning 3-1. Junior middle blocker Trixie Oche hit a best-match .409 with 10 kills alongside freshman outside hitter Laia Saylor and Wood. Woziak surpassed yesterday’s assists with a match-high of 37 assists.

Head coach Jeff Huebner said the season has looked different with the new Covid-19 safety measures.

“Our team wears masks to practice, lift and travel, gets COVID tested almost weekly, submits to daily screenings, temperature checks, and questionnaires in order to play and practice,” Huebner said.

The Pioneers are supported by the Pioneer Pride Dance and Pioneer Pep band when competing in home games where spectators are not allowed. Huber said when competing in travel matches, sometimes fans, family, and friends are allowed, creating the at-home feel.

Soccer

The Pioneers topped Oklahoma Christian 4-0 on Feb. 24 in Oklahoma City.

After scoring half the goals from Tuesday’s game, senior forward Haley Ward is now TWU’s all-time leading goal scorer. Sophomore goalkeeper Bailey Heffernon saved two potential goals from Oklahoma Christian.

Ward scored the first goal in the first half of the game. The Pioneers held the 1-0 advantage until junior forward Keely Chapman upped the score to 2-0. Junior defender Maddy Harper scored the final goal for TWU in the 69th minute making the score 4-0.

“Great overall team performance today,” head coach Babak Abouzar said in a press release. “Credit to OC for making things difficult for us, especially in the first half. Our team really applied the things we discussed at halftime, and it showed in the opening minutes of the second half. Our freshmen played a big role in this win which was great to see. We will enjoy this victory and start game-planning for another quality opponent in UT Tyler.”

The Pioneers return to the field on Saturday, March 6 at 6 p.m. hosting Dallas Baptist University in Pioneer Soccer Park.

Softball

The TWU Pioneers lost to both Our Lady of the Lake University Saints 5-2 on Friday and Rogers State 8-1 on Saturday in Tyler.

On Friday, freshman left field Alexys Ginegaw scored the first point during the bottom of the second inning giving the Pioneers a 1-0 advantage. OLLU responded by adding three points in the third inning, but senior Tara Soloman hit a run making the score 3-2. In the opening of the fourth inning, OLLU added another two runs and held the upper hand until the end 5-2. The concluding game for the two teams on Feb. 27 was canceled due to the weather.

Senior catcher Taylor Goulet scored a grounder run batted in during the second inning however, the Roger State Hillcats swept the fourth inning putting four points on the board and two points in the sixth inning.

The Pioneers return to action Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. against Augustana and 2:30 p.m. facing St. Mary’s in Tyler.

Deanna West can be reached via email at dwest6@twu.edu.

Featured image courtesy of Texas Woman’s University.

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