Last Thursday — Nov. 5, 2009 — is a day that those in the TWU athletic department will remember for some time.

It was a rare day on which three of the school’s five programs not only competed but also won, led by the soccer team’s first-round victory in the Lone Star Conference tournament and the basketball team’s upset of crosstown foe North Texas in an exhibition game.

But perhaps no TWU team benefited as much from the day’s good fortune as the volleyball squad, which outlasted South-eastern Oklahoma State in five sets.

The Pioneers parlayed that win and a sweep of East Central (Okla.) on Saturday into a berth in the LSC postseason tournament. Such a scenario seemed unlikely only a week ago, when TWU was tied for 10th place in the league.

In fact, after winning a four-team tiebreaker, the Pioneers wound up seeded sixth in the eight-team tournament. Even more fortuitously, TWU will not have to play either of the top two seeds (West Texas A&M and Abilene Christian).

Instead, the Pioneers (16-16) will face No. 3 seed Angelo State in the first round on Thursday. TWU swept the Rambelles in San Angelo on Oct. 10 in the only meeting between the teams this season.

“In our head, I think it helps us out because we know how we match up against them,” said TWU head coach Shelly Bar-beree. “But they’re playing much better than they were playing.”

If TWU wins on Thursday, it would face either Abilene Chris-tian or Texas A&M-Kingsville in the semifinals on Friday.

The Pioneers will compete in the LSC tournament for the seventh straight year and 12th overall. They lost to West Texas A&M in the semifinals a year ago.

In order to make it, TWU won both conference matches on the same weekend for the first time this season. The Pioneers’ win on Thursday was their first five-set win in league play after starting 0-4 in five-set matches.

“They just had a different aura about them this week. We actually did what we needed to do,” Barberee said. “They proved it to the people who doubted us, but they proved it to themselves as well.”

Harlan nets LSC honor

TWU outside hitter Alyson Harlan was named the LSC Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday for her performance over the weekend.

Harlan, a junior from Eustace, led the Pioneers in kills against both Southeastern Oklahoma State, when she had 24 to go with 20 digs, and against East Central, when she tallied 14 kills.

Harlan leads TWU with 268 kills this season. She also paces the team with 38 service aces and is second with 299 digs.

Soccer

Pioneers gain momentum

TWU’s season ended with a 1-0 loss to Central Oklahoma in the semifinals of the LSC tournament on Friday in Canyon, which followed less than 24 hours after the Pioneers topped Texas A&M-Commerce on penalty kicks following a scoreless draw in the first round.

The loss eliminated a tired TWU squad, which played on back-to-back days against an opponent that received a first-round bye.

“If we would have had fresh legs, it might have been a different story,” TWU head coach Fleur Benatar said. “We played 110 minutes the day before and I don’t have a lot of players on the bench.”

Benatar said that while her team is disappointed that its season ended, it also left the tournament with a positive outlook for the future. TWU will lose only two seniors, including forward Chastity Hayter, who led the team in scoring in each of the past two seasons.

Much of that optimism is fueled by the Pioneers’ 6-3-1 record in conference play, their best in the program’s eight-year history. TWU tied for the fewest goals allowed in conference play with LSC champion West Texas A&M at five.

“We’re gonna be ready next season,” Benatar said. “These girls are determined. They played beyond my belief sometimes. This is a turning point for our program.”

Morgan recognized by LSC

Junior goalkeeper Nori Mor-gan was voted as the LSC Goalkeeper of the Year after a stellar first season as a starter for the Pioneers.

Morgan started every game this season for TWU, posting a 8-9-2 overall record with a 0.97 goals-against average. She also had a save percentage of .843 and seven shutouts, five of which came against conference opponents. She ranked first in the league with 97 saves.

Morgan was the only first-team all-conference selection for TWU, however. Senior forward Chastity Hayter and junior defender Natalie Holovach made the second team.

“It was unfortunate that we didn’t get recognized more for our efforts,” Benatar said.

Horner gets academic honor

Senior midfielder Jacqueline Horner was named the LSC Academic Player of the Year. The former Denton High School standout has a perfect 4.0 grade-point average as a kinesiology major.

She is the second consecutive TWU player and second straight Denton native to win the award. Former goalkeeper Aly Vincent-Evans, a former standout at Ryan, won the award in 2008.

Basketball

Jillson pleased with UNT win

TWU head coach Beth Jillson said that while she doesn’t want to make a big deal out of TWU’s 79-75 exhibition win over crosstown foe North Texas on Thursday, it does give the Pioneers confidence heading into the season.

TWU suited up only eight players, none taller than 5-11, for their exhibition opener yet still were able to build a 20-point lead in the second half before hanging on late against a Division I opponent.

“For us to play that good early on is impressive. They showed a ton of heart and a ton of fight,” Jillson said. “They played inspired, and that is a credit to our seven returners and the leadership on this team.”

The Pioneers will host Division III LeTourneau in an exhibition game at 7 p.m. tonight at Kitty Magee Arena in their last tuneup for the season opener Monday against Harding (Ark.).

“We have to treat each opponent the same,” Jillson said. “We’re playing to win, and we want to work on some new things as well.”

Gymnastics

Intrasquad meet on tap

The Pioneers will host their annual intrasquad meet on Dec. 5, with a holiday theme that includes an appearance by Santa Claus, to provide the public unveiling for a squad that includes seven freshmen.

TWU head coach Frank Kudlac said he has been impressed with how the team has performed in early workouts, with vault an especially strong event.

“We’re healthy and we’ve had a good preseason,” Kudlac said. “All indications show that we’re gonna be pretty darn strong.”

TODD JORGENSON can be reached at 940-566-6871. His e-mail address is tjorgenson@dentonrc.com .