CANYON, Texas – The #17 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M took the opening frame before the Texas Woman's Pioneers found an offensive rhythm on their way to a four-set victory (25-21, 23-25, 16-25, 13-25) in the quarterfinal round of the 2025 Lone Star Conference Volleyball Championships at the Junell Center in San Angelo, Texas.
 
WT began the first set with a steady start, showing resilience after Texas Woman's initial points, quickly leveling the score at 1-1 with a kill from Kaycee Cavanaugh. A back-and-forth exchange of points ensued, with Currie Marusak and Taytum Stow delivering key kills to keep the score close. Parker Gladhill and Emma Becker contributed defensively with pivotal blocks that helped turn the momentum in favor of the Lady Buffs.
 
Midway through the set, WT capitalized on a series of attack errors by Texas Woman's to pull ahead. Bromli Watson's service ace and consistent setting played a crucial role during this phase. Marusak and Gladhill continued to add points with timely kills, pushing the Lady Buffs to a narrow lead as the set progressed.
 
As the set neared its conclusion, the Lady Buffs maintained pressure with strong defensive efforts, forcing multiple attack errors from the visitors. Cavanaugh and Stow combined for a decisive block that extended the home team's advantage. Ultimately, West Tex. A&M secured the set 25-21, closing with a ball handling error by Texas Woman's, solidifying their lead.
 
In the second set, the Lady Buffs faced an early challenge as Texas Woman's jumped to a 3-0 lead. Despite an attack error by Cavanaugh, Stow responded with a kill to put the home team on the board. West Tex. A&M narrowed the gap with Marusak's successive kills, supported by Watson's assists, bringing the score to 5-2.
 
Momentum swung back and forth as the Lady Buffs rallied from behind multiple times. Marusak continued to be a key player, tying the score at 14 with a kill. Becker also contributed crucial points, keeping the score competitive at 18-18. The set remained tense as both teams traded points, reaching a 22-22 tie. However, Texas Woman's capitalized on late errors by the Lady Buffs to close the set, ultimately taking it 25-23.
 
The third set began with Texas Woman's building early momentum, capitalizing on a series of plays to take a 3-0 lead. The Lady Buffs responded with defensive stops, including a block by Sharlotte McClintock and Cavanaugh, to close the gap to 3-2. Stow contributed with key kills, maintaining a competitive pace as the teams traded points, reaching a 6-6 tie.
 
Despite efforts from Marusak and Becker, West Texas A&M found challenges against the persistent attacks from Texas Woman's, who gradually extended their lead. A service ace by Hannah Pemberton kept the home team in contention at 11-11. However, Texas Woman's capitalized on errors to create separation, concluding the set with a 25-16 victory.
 
WT began the fourth set trailing, with Texas Woman's securing a 4-0 lead through a combination of service and attack errors from the home side. Stow managed to break the run with a kill from Casey Loewer, but subsequent errors allowed Texas Woman's to extend their advantage to 9-3.
 
Despite a mid-set push, including kills from Marusak and Loewer, the Lady Buffs struggled to close the gap as Texas Woman's continued to capitalize on errors, building a 17-4 lead. A late sequence featuring blocks from Stow and a kill by Becker reduced the margin slightly, but Texas Woman's maintained control. The set concluded with Texas Woman's securing a 25-13 victory, closing the match. The Lady Buffs' attempts to rally were met with consistent opposition, resulting in a decisive set for the visiting team.
 
Marusak led with 16 kills, contributing significantly to the team's offensive efforts. Stow added 12 kills and was active at the net with one solo block and three block assists. Becker chipped in with eight kills and four block assists, while also delivering one service ace. Pemberton excelled defensively, collecting 20 digs to stabilize the back row.
 
Myracle Stockman led Texas Woman's with 18 points, recording 15 kills on 47 attempts for a hitting percentage of .234 and contributing significantly on defense with five total blocks. Tori Woods was another standout, amassing 19 points, including 18 kills with a .333 hitting percentage, and adding nine digs. Trinity Blackwood showcased her defensive skills, achieving six total blocks over the course of the match. Jonaida Donowa made a strong impact at the net as well, tallying eight total blocks while maintaining a .308 hitting percentage with four kills. Kiana Reed excelled in her defensive duties, compiling 15 digs and adding 29 assists in the team's efforts.
 
The Lady Buffs now await their postseason fate as the complete field for the NCAA Division II Volleyball Championship will be announced on Monday, November 24^th at 6:30 p.m. CT via an online selection show on NCAA.com.