WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State's
Aaliyah Burras pounded out a career-high 19 kills to lead the Mustangs to a 25-15, 23-25, 25-27, 26-24, 15-13 win over Texas Woman's Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
The senior from New Orleans committed just three errors in 34 total swings to hit team-best .471 to spark the Mustangs to their best team hitting performance of the season.
MSU hit .229 with 65 kills and needed each of them to outlast the Pioneers with the final fours decided by a two points and two of those extended beyond 25.
The red-hot Burras came out firing in the opening set putting down nine kills as the Mustangs rode the momentum of an 8-1 start to hit .379 as a team with 13 kills to roll to a 25-15 win.
Behind the efforts of freshman Tori Woods and sophomore Lexi Williams, TWU battled to take the next two sets nudging the Mustangs 25-23 and 27-25.
Woods finished with a team high 14 kills, while Williams added 10.
The Mustangs regained their rhythm with a strong fourth set hitting .324 as a team finishing with 15 kills and three errors paced by freshman outside hitters
Sadie Portmann and
Arrianna Fields, who had four kills each.
Midwestern State staved off a match point after TWU's Trixie Oche recorded a kill to give the Pioneers a 24-23 advantage.
The Mustangs took advantage of a service error which sparked a three-point run culminating in Portmann's second service ace of the match allowing MSU to extend the match to five sets with a 26-24 win.
Midwestern State never trailed in the deciding set, but needed a consecutive TWU errors at the service line then on the attack to earn three match points at 14-11.
Senior outside hitter
Taylor Anderson produced the game winning kill after TWU deflected a pair of match points to give the Mustangs their second straight win at home.
Portmann finished her eighth double-double of the season finishing with 15 kills and 13 digs, while Fields amassed campaign bests with 10 kills and four total blocks.
Freshman
Taygon Jones delivered her third performance with at least 30 digs leading back row effort with 30 digs, while sophomore
Amy DeWalt added 16.
MSU setter
Autumn Roach posted 31 assists with a .397 set percentage, while
Regan Willms posted 28 assists with a .359 set rate.
Anderson tacked on nine kills, while senior
Jaylen Hogue enjoyed a season-best output with seven kills while committing just two errors on 18 swings to hit .278.
Midwestern State (5-18, 3-8 LSC) takes on Western New Mexico Friday night at Ligon Coliseum. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
Texas Woman's dropped to 12-11 and 3-8.
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-- MSUMustangs.com --